ANA Recognizes Cannabis Nursing as a Specialty Practice, Emphasizing Education and Evidence
On September 27, 2023, the American Nurses Association (ANA) formally recognized cannabis nursing as a specialty nursing practice. The designation acknowledges nurses who provide education, guidance, and support to patients exploring the therapeutic use of cannabis and cannabinoid products.
The recognition was developed in collaboration with the American Cannabis Nurses Association (ACNA), which describes cannabis nursing as a practice focused on helping health care consumers make informed decisions about cannabis within the context of their broader care. Cannabis nurses may need specialized knowledge of cannabinoid products, potential benefits and risks, drug interactions, routes of administration, and the legal requirements that vary by state.
ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy said the designation recognizes the contribution cannabis nurses can make across health care settings. ACNA President Rachel Parmelee likewise emphasized that nurses need specific competencies to guide patients and address the stigma that can surround medical cannabis use.
ANA’s decision does not establish a national license or independently expand what nurses may prescribe, recommend, or administer. Nurses must continue to follow state nursing laws, institutional policies, professional standards, and federal requirements. The designation is instead a formal acknowledgment that caring for patients who use or are considering cannabis may require focused education and practice competencies.
The announcement also builds on the ANA’s position statement on the therapeutic use of marijuana and related cannabinoids, approved in 2021. In that statement, ANA called for stronger clinical research, evidence-based guidance on indications and dosing, protections for patients using medical cannabis under state law, and safeguards for health care professionals who discuss cannabis as a treatment option in accordance with professional standards and applicable law.
That emphasis on research is important because evidence for cannabis and cannabinoid therapies remains uneven. Some products and cannabinoid-based medications have studied uses, while evidence for other conditions, formulations, and dosing approaches is limited or mixed. Patients may also face risks involving adverse effects, impaired functioning, interactions with other medications, and inconsistent product quality. The ANA’s position supports studying these questions rather than treating cannabis as either universally beneficial or universally ineffective.
The specialty designation also provides a framework for developing professional guidance. The ANA now offers Cannabis Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, which outlines expectations and competencies for nurses working with patients who seek education or care related to cannabis. Earlier guidance from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing similarly addressed nurses’ responsibilities when caring for patients who use medical marijuana.
Overall, ANA’s recognition reflects the changing clinical environment surrounding cannabis without resolving the larger questions about efficacy, safety, regulation, or access. Its practical significance lies in encouraging specialized education, clearer standards, and better research so nurses can support patients with accurate information and care that remains within professional and legal boundaries.
