Cannabis: The Facts

Course Overview

Although cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Australia, it is known to have therapeutic indications for use in specific health circumstances. This Course reviews the pharmacology and efficacy of medicinal cannabis.

Topics

• How does medicinal cannabis work?
• What are its effects?
• What evidence is available for its potential use?
• What are the contraindications?

Need

Recent changes to legislation mean that nurses and other health professionals are likely to experience increased questioning and potential patient demand for medicinal cannabis-based products. The evidence base for the use of medical cannabis is currently incomplete and constantly evolving – therefore there is a need for ongoing research and education in this area.

Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses indicate that there is some therapeutic potential of medical cannabis, however, further research and trials are warranted. There is a need for education that explains the pharmacological effects of medical cannabis and the implications for certain therapeutic situations.

Purpose

The purpose of this Course is to develop an understanding of the modes of action, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cannabis and how the drug works from a pharmacological perspective and investigate the evidence for and against its proclaimed efficacy in a variety of conditions.

Learning Outcomes

• Health professionals will be able to make informed decisions from a pharmacological viewpoint regarding the prescription of cannabis for medicinal use.

Target Audience

This Course is designed to enhance the knowledge of registered nurses and various other health professionals with respect to the pharmacology and efficacy of medicinal cannabis.

Disclosure

No conflict of interest exists for anyone in the position to control content for this activity. Wherever possible, generic or non-proprietary names of medications or products have been used.

Educator

Louis Roller

Louis Roller has been an academic at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Monash University for 56 years. He was on the Pharmacy Board of Victoria for 22 years and has significantly contributed to many editions of various pharmaceutical compendia, including the Therapeutic Guidelines. He has been and is on the editorial board of the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook and has contributed significantly to all three editions of Mosby’s Dictionary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health Sciences. He is the author of hundreds of scientific and professional articles and has a passion for evidence-based knowledge and writes articles on disease state management. He lectures to pharmacists, medical practitioners, nurses, podiatrists and optometrists on a variety of therapeutic topics, as well the University of the Third Age on various medication-related issues. He still lectures to pharmacy undergraduates on a number of topics. He has particular interests in drug interactions and pharmacogenomics and William Shakespeare. He has served as a committee member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Victorian Branch since 2008. In 2012, he was made a life member of the Australasian Pharmaceutical Sciences Association and, in 2014, he was awarded the life-long achievement award of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. His current activities include singing in a choir, visiting schools about bullying (Courage to Care), and giving talks to U3A groups and appropriate accommodation groups. He is a proud member of the Australian Skeptics. See Educator Profile