[brian]

It is difficult for nurses to remain silent when patients are denied access to an effective medical treatment. That is why the Wisconsin Nurses Association supports the medical marijuana bill authored by Rep. Gregg Underheim (R-Oshkosh), known as AB 740.

In taking this position, we are squarely in the mainstream of the public health community. The American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Public Health Association and the American Academy of HIV Medicine are just a few of the health care organizations that have acknowledged that marijuana can be a valuable treatment when used under medical supervision.

A large body of evidence indicates that marijuana can relieve a number of debilitating symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, certain types of pain and the pressure inside the eye that robs glaucoma patients of their sight. Moreover, it can do so with remarkable safety.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/editori...c05/376735.asp

[icyounurse]

I think its great that these nurses are speaking out!! There is no reason medical marijuana should still be outlawed.

[traumahawk99]

as a nurse-to-be with glaucoma, i applaud the decision to support the medical use of marijuana.

perhaps someday our society will be enlightened, and not harass people who use herb. kudos to the wisconsin nurses who advocate for the welfare of patients in the face of draconian laws that pander to a minority of americans!

[nursemamma72]

I too think that it is good. I wish every state would. I had an uncle who had AIDS and took this in pill form. If it was not for this medication he could not eat because of no appetite as well as nausea. I hope it becomes available for patients everywhere.

[nurse4theplanet]

I have no objections to the use of medical marijuana as an effective approach to pain management. But I do object to legalizing it across the board for non-medical use. I had many friends in HS that glamorized the use and it eventually became the 'gateway' drug to much more dangerous substances.

[Bluewombat]

I work in an Oncology Unit and when our patients are having Cisplatin which is an highly emetic drug that when you have resourced every option available to help minimise this horrible side effect and they tell you "a friend told them to have a joint to get rid of nausea"...and it works..the therapeutic value out ways the condeming of the action.....I turn a blind eye to this to quote Sargeant Shultz : "I know notink"......
If it was properly trialled and close eye kept on the potential side effects...then it is a valuable resource.....

But why not try to synthesise it so that you can get the benefits with out the addictive and chemical imbalance side effects?

[Nemhain]

Yay! If I were in Wisconsin I'd be backing up Medical Marijuana too!!! Hooray for them!!!! Actually, I'd back it up anywhere!!!

[Tanzanite]

That's great news!

[caroladybelle]

Originally Posted by asoldierswife05

I have no objections to the use of medical marijuana as an effective approach to pain management. But I do object to legalizing it across the board for non-medical use. I had many friends in HS that glamorized the use and it eventually became the 'gateway' drug to much more dangerous substances.

And what do you consider alcohol and cigarettes?

[SFCardiacRN]

Marijuana clubs have been in San Francisco for several years now. Though there is widespread abuse of the system there seems to be no citywide problems related to the clubs. A few of the clubs have been robbed but crime has not gone up. I do think marijuana is a dangerous drug in the hands of children. It robs ambition and often entices the use of other drugs. It seems to help a wide variety of patients/symptoms and should be regulated like other prescription drugs.