A nursing home in the Bronx began a cannabis program in 2016 and is having good results:
The Hebrew Home at Riverdale, in the Bronx, first launched its “innovative” new cannabis program in 2016. With it, the facility provided educational sessions and a fact sheet on the often-misunderstood drug to both residents and their family members. About 10 residents have participated so far, and they have reported that cannabis has helped to lessen the severity of chronic pain and reduce opioid dosages, among other benefits, investigators wrote in a study published in January’s Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
The home is carefully keeping in compliance with federal and state statutes. As the use of cannabis for medicine evolves, providers will need to be aware of how to navigate state and federal laws and regulations.
Meanwhile, in Kentucky, Republican lawmakers are beginning to support medical marijuana:
Medical marijuana legalization has picked up support from some Republican Kentucky lawmakers, including Sen. Dan Seum, of Bullitt County, who said he “smoked a joint” after cancer treatment a number of years ago instead of taking opioid painkillers.
“And guess what? No nausea,” said Seum, who plans to co-sponsor a bill in the Senate that would pair with a similar one that’s been sponsored by Republicans in the House.
