Leaf nurses offer specialized knowledge on cannabis medicine questions
Medically reviewed by Katherine Golden, RN, and Eloise Theisen, NP
Written by Denise Rustning
If you’ve searched for information on using cannabis for health, you know how challenging it can be to find sources you can trust. Even your primary care doctor may be uncertain, skeptical, or restricted by their healthcare employer from talking about cannabis’s therapeutic value. In some cases, physicians may offer guidance based on patient anecdotes or their own experience using cannabis, yet cannabis is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
On the other hand, Leaf nurses do have specialized education and knowledge on cannabis therapeutics that allows them to tailor their guidance to individual patient needs. What does this look like in practice?
In a recent Society of Cannabis Clinicians article, Leaf411 Founder and CEO/ED Katherine Golden, RN, and Leaf411 CNO Eloise Theisen, NP, share a anonymized case study of a patient who contacted Leaf411 for help after their doctor suggested a 4:1 CBD:THC tincture for pain. From the article:
“A woman was advised by her primary care doctor to try a 4:1 CBD/THC tincture for pain. The doctor told the woman, ‘That ratio worked for my husband’s pain, so it could potentially help you as well.’ The doctor did not discuss how much or how often to take cannabis or possible side effects with other medications. Unfortunately, the woman did not understand the level of THC in a 4:1 product. She took it in addition to the CBD preparation she had already been using. The combination led to a trip to the emergency room after experiencing rapid heart rate and paranoia. With proper guidance, this adverse event could have been avoided.”
You’ll want to read the rest of the article at this link to learn how a Leaf nurse would have guided the patient to reduce the risk of this type of situation, taking the patient’s full hemp and cannabis history into account and guided the patient to specific product types.
Check out the case study and a sample transcript of how the Leaf nurse would have provided guidance at this link.
Ready to schedule your consultation with a Leaf nurse?
Leaf411 is moving to a schedule-based model to better serve the public while improving our operational efficiency. Our new model allows you to schedule your call with our Leaf nurses at a day and time that works for you. No more worrying about having to leave a message and waiting for a call back! Get started today by visiting our home page and clicking on the “Let’s Talk” button to schedule your Leaf nurse consultation.
Also, our hotline is still available if you have a question about scheduling an appointment or if you don’t have access to a computer. Call us at 844-LEAF411 (844-532-3411) and leave a message and a nurse will call you back within 24-48 business hours.
We look forward to helping you with your cannabis health questions!
The Leaf411 cannabis nurse hotline provides education and directional support to the general public about the safe use of legal cannabis. We partner with select business members who meet our rigorous standards to extend our education and outreach efforts.