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Cannabis Nurses Network to Address Opioid Addiction

cnnc
Written by Alexandra Hicks

According to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, states with medical cannabis have a 25% lower rate of opioid overdose deaths. Furthermore, medical cannabis saves nearly $165 million in Medicare prescription costs every single year.

An educational session titled “Breaking the Cycle of Opioid Addiction” will be presented at this year’s Cannabis Nurses Network Conference (CNNC) in San Diego, California. This will take place at the San Diego Sheraton Hotel and Marina from February 28th to March 2nd.

The Cannabis Nurses Conference (CNN) was created with a few simple goals in mind, to help Registered Nurses and other health professionals learn more about cannabis treatments, the functions of the endocannabinoid system, and how to apply this knowledge to daily patient care. This particular event will focus on using cannabis to curb the ongoing opioid epidemic.

CNNC

The Cannabis Nurses Network Conference

According to founding member of the CNNC, Heather Manus RN, “Patients are using cannabis legally, with or without medical oversight. Nurses are being encouraged by the National Council State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to seek and gain knowledge regarding Cannabis Patient Care. I believe we are witnessing a revolution in healthcare, and Nurses are among those at the forefront.”

Panel members for this year’s event include writer Uwe Blesching, professional football player Boo Williams, and hospice nurse Marcie Cooper RN, MSN, AHN-BC, who will get together for a presentation titled “Cannabis & Opiate Harm Reduction. All three bring their own unique expertise to the table.

CNNC

Panel member Owe Blesching

Blesching has contributed a lot of academic material to the industry with books including Cannabis Health Index, Breaking the Cycle of Opioid Addiction, and Heal Yourself with Cannabis. He pulls from his wealth of experience in emergency medicine that he gained while working as a Paramedic for 20 years in San Francisco.

Nurse Cooper has 10 years of experience in hospice care and has helped create several CEU (continued education units) courses on cannabis, including the nationally accredited program Cannabinoid Connections. She also utilizes cannabis treatments in the BSN program she teaches at Tennessee State University.

CNNC

Panel member Boo Williams

Williams is a former tight end for the New Orleans Saints and a current cannabis business owner. His company sells a varied line of CBD products under the brand BooBeary. Being a former athlete, Williams has personal experience using cannabis instead of opiates to manage his pain – and as an entrepreneur, he is well-versed in different aspects of the industry.

If you’d like to purchase tickets for the event, or if you just want to learn more about it, click here. Also, check out this VIDEO for a quick overview of the CNNC.

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About the author

Alexandra Hicks

Managing editor at Cannadelics and U.S based journalist, helping spread the word about the many benefits of using cannabis and psychedelics.