Cannabis Nurse Truths

Have you heard rumors that cannabis can cure cancer? Yes, the stories are true. Researchers are now intensely investigating cannabis and the cannabinoids within the plant for their anti-tumor, anti-proliferative properties.  While cannabis has been used (and approved) by the FDA for symptom management associated with cancer treatment, studies now highlight how cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, CBC, THCV, and THC can cause the death of cancer cells in addition to use as an adjuvant treatment that synergizes chemotherapy medications. 
In this episode of CNT, we review the ongoing research related to cannabinoids that influence the process of apoptosis, a form of programmed cell suicide, which signals the cancer cell to kill itself while having no adverse effects on normal, healthy cells. 

The US Attorney General has published the proposal to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III.  While the move to a lesser-controlled category is a move in the right direction, the implications of rescheduling cannabis at this level also will create a myriad of concerns and conflicts with state-run dispensaries and individuals freedoms related to access. 
On this episode of CNT, we review the consequences of federally-controlled cannabis, which has the potential to disrupt every facet of American culture.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, after a recommendation by the Department of Health and Human Services, has indicated it will be moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III in the Controlled Substances Act. This proposed move cannabis to a lower schedule supports what science has indicated after 80 years of research - cannabis is medicine with a low potential for abuse and harm. 
But in reality, rescheduling will only benefit businesses and the medical industrial complex.  Why? Schedule III drugs are still under the control of the DEA and more significantly, Big Pharma. In this episode, we highlight the potential good, bad, and downright ugly repercussions of this proposed rescheduling. 

Have you ever been drug tested? How did that make you feel? Like a criminal? Well, when you use THC, you are considered a habitual illegal drug user even though it may have been your first time - or you may have used cannabis weeks ago.  In every situation, cannabis users will test positive for THC because of where it hangs out in the body - in the fat cells, where it is released slowly over weeks or months for the body to eventually eliminate it. If your employer requires a "No Tolerance" policy, you also may lose your job because of THC's unique physiological metabolism.
In this episode of CNT, we review the numerous problems associated with drug testing for THC, and why the amount of THC present in the body does not correlate with impairment.  This is not alcohol, which has a direct linear correlation with impairment, where the more you drink, the more you get drunk.  Nope, THC is happy to live in your body for a long time, which is why drug testing for it creates a problem for those using it and those testing for it. 

Did you know that you can use CANNABIS to treat nicotine addiction? How about that! Research is helping us understand how some non-impairing cannabinoids, such as CBD, can be utilized to treat many chronic conditions, yet one of the most surprising outcomes of research indicates that non-impairing compounds like CBD can be used to treat not only nicotine addiction, but also the withdrawal symptoms associated with tobacco cessation as nicotine clears the body. 
In this episode of CNT, we review the most current research that leads to the knowledge that cannabis can be used to support individuals who are desperate to stop smoking.  Watch out, Big Tobacco, CBD is coming for you!  

What do Cheech & Chong, Willie Nelson, and Martha Stewart all have in common? They are among the number of Americans age 65 and older who use cannabis.  Use of cannabis by the older adult population has nearly tripled over a decade, and past-year prevalence of cannabis use among those 50 years or older significantly increased by over 71%. Now, over 53% of Americans between the ages of 65-74 age group support adult-use cannabis, and they are using cannabis for many age-related conditions. 
Cannabis is not just recreational; research has indicated that cannabinoids can be used to replace pharmaceuticals and relieve chronic conditions associated with growing old, and on this episode of CNT, we discuss how Boomers are no longer saying NO to cannabis. 

Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, has been the bad boy of cannabis since prohibition began in the 1930s. We already know that smoking cannabis delivers high doses of THC, and smoking anything is never a good idea for heart health. However, there are over 150 cannabinoids found in the plant, and several of them are considered heart healthy for their effects on circulation, nervous stimulation, prevention of inflammation, and mental stress. 
While the results of research remain mixed, there are numerous studies that suggest use of selected cannabinoids - like CBD, CBG, and CBN - may positively affect heart conditions such as high blood pressure, heart failure, and stroke, as well as reverse inflammatory conditions such as cardiomyopathy.  In this episode of CNT, we review the research that indicates cannabis is good for the heart (as long as you are not smoking THC!). 

Did you know that when cannabis is sold legally, the sale of over-the-counter sleep aids drops 250%? Cue the sad music, because when cannabis comes to town, it brings a natural, holistic approach to help people get a great night's sleep!  One of the most widely-reported beneficial uses of cannabis is for sleep, and around 70% of young adults that casually use cannabis report that they do so to help them sleep. Among people who use cannabis for medical reasons, such as pain relief, as many as 85% say it improves their sleep. And for those who are unable to (or don't want to!) use THC, there are several other cannabinoids - CBD, CBG, and CBN - that are beneficial for sleep. 
In this episode of CNT, we highlight the use of cannabis for sleep, and why pharmaceuticals products for sleep don't stand a chance when cannabis is sold legally. 

This episode is sure to catch the attention of many people, especially those who suffer with autism or know someone who does.  In the past several years, researchers have identified numerous cannabinoids that are NOT THC that will improve socialization and reduce agitation in autism spectrum disorders.  Not only do these non-impairing cannabinoids reduce these behavioral symptoms of autism, several will help to repair the damage done to the central nervous system by toxins and inflammation, the usual suspects associated with an ASD diagnosis.
In this episode of CNT, we highlight the ongoing research - include a critical Department of Defense ASD study - that indicates cannabis has the potential to reverse autism disorders and repair the damage caused by external and internal factors. 

Our Veteran population is over 17 million strong, and 72% of Veterans live in a state where medical marijuana is legal. Yet there are numerous hurdles and barriers a Veteran must overcome in order to access cannabis. Additionally, Veterans use cannabis for a variety of reasons, both psychosocial and physical. Yet the Veteran's Administration currently does not allow their healthcare practitioners to recommend cannabis to their Veteran population, which sets up a myriad of health and safety concerns for this vulnerable population. As Veterans begin their journey toward wellness, they are looking for evidence-based answers to health concerns that extend way beyond the VA. 
So if their VA doctor cannot recommend cannabis, and the evidence that they use does not consider dosages, treatments, and potential risks versus benefits, who can the Veteran turn to for cannabis recommendations? Our Veterans are looking to Cannabis Nurses to support their safe use of cannabis to treat their health conditions, and on this episode of Cannabis Nurse Truths, we will share the truth about cannabis as both helpful, and potentially harmful in our Veteran population. We also have a Call to Action to our legislators and healthcare providers who work within the VA system. Welcome to Cannabis Nurse Truths, where we are not afraid to share the truth about cannabis as medicine.