For Immediate Attention: December 20, 2004

The national non-profit, Patients Out of Time, an educational charity that educates health care professionals and the public concerning the efficacy of therapeutic marijuana, is pleased to issue this public health policy announcement.

“Illinois nurses have an obligation to the public regarding matters of science and health as well as an obligation to protect the integrity of the profession. A basic principle of the ANA maintains that nurses participate in the profession’s efforts to protect the public from misinformation and misrepresentation. Therefore, the Illinois Nurses Association joins the Institute of Medicine (1999), the American Nurses Association (2003), and twelve Constituent Member Associations, the American Public Health Association, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, among other organizations in recognizing the value of science over cultural misrepresentation and supports patients requiring safe access to therapeutic cannabis.”

The entire Position Paper, Executive Summary and Position Statement can be found here. Authored and presented to the INA Board of Directors by Paula N. Kagan PhD, RN on behalf of the “Assembly on Health Policy” of the INA, “it was approved unanimously” said Dr. Kagan.

“It is important to note that the impetus to promote the scientific and scholarly agenda on cannabis has been lead by two American nurses, Mary Lynn Mathre, MSN, RN, CARN (Virginia Nurses Association) and Melanie Dreher, PhD, RN, FAAN (Iowa Nurses Association) and has facilitated the international dialogue currently taking place among scientists, providers, patients, and legal experts”, stated the document.

Nurses Dreher and Mathre are on the Board of Directors of Patients Out of Time.

Contact: Al Byrne; al@medicalcannabis.com
Patients Out of Time
1472 Fish Pond Rd.
Howardsville, VA 24562
(434) 263-4484 (434) 263-6753 fax