Clearing the haze: Guidance on medical cannabis for chronic pain and other conditions
Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction
This free, on-demand course explores the role of medical cannabis in managing chronic pain. Through a harm-reduction framework, learners will explore the risks and benefits of cannabis use for pain management and receive guidance for counseling patients who may or may not be good candidates for medical cannabis. The course delves into research on cannabis efficacy for noncancer chronic pain, with mention of other medical conditions, including anxiety, epilepsy and nerve pain. By the end of this course, students will be able to make informed decisions when counseling patients on safe and responsible cannabis use, identify red flags and apply best practices in patient care.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the difference between medical cannabis and FDA-approved medications.
- Describe the benefits, risks and adverse effects associated with medical cannabis use for chronic pain conditions.
- Explain the legal and regulatory framework governing medical cannabis use in patient care.
- Apply principles of harm reduction and best practices when recommending or managing medical cannabis therapy for chronic pain.
- Analyze current research and clinical considerations to inform patient education and shared decision-making about medical cannabis.
This activity is jointly accredited for one continuing education credit hour by:
- Arizona Medical Association
- California Board of Registered Nurses
- National Association of Social Workers, Arizona chapter
- National Commission for Health Education Credentialing Inc.
- Society for Human Resource Management
To find more training options, including continuing education credits for cannabis, visit the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction's learning portal.
This information is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional about any medical conditions. AzCANN is a 5-year cannabis education and outreach project. It is delivered by the University of Arizona Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction. These materials are supported by grant No. CTR063305 funded by the Arizona Department of Health Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Arizona Department of Health Services.