Is It Advisable for Nurses to Use CBD Oil?
Throughout the last few years, CBD has become the talk of the town. Its increasing popularity has taken the world by storm and changed the fundamentals of the medical industry.
In the course of the last two years, the COVID-19 situations have brought the importance of medical professionals has been foreground.
While all the other industries had to be shut down, and people confined themselves within the comfort of their homes, the health and medical personnel have put aside their health concerns to tend to those in need of their aid.
In day-to-day life, medical professionals have to be very spontaneous and hands-on with their decision-making abilities. For this purpose, they need to have a clear head.
Therefore, they have to ensure that they don’t engage in any activities that can meddle with their neurological wellbeing.
Realizing the enormity of the responsibility placed on the shoulders of the medical professionals, it is unsurprising that they also face a lot of criticism when things go south.
Prescribing and using CBD by authorized physicians is not a common practice yet. This results from the lack of evidence that supports its medical benefits.
What Is CBD Oil?
Cannabis is the product obtained by drying the leaves, stems, and flowers of the Cannabis sativa plant. Furthermore, this substance contains over 100 chemical compounds, each of which has a unique effect on the human body.
Among these substances, cannabidiol (CBD) is the most prevalent, non-psychedelic, active chemical compound. It interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors of the body, however, it does not make the consumer “high.”
With its growing popularity, people have come up with new ways to consume the substance. Similarly, industries have incorporated it into their products in unique ways to attract more consumers.
One of the prevailing methods of consuming CBD is in the form of CBD oil. People widely regard it as a treatment for problems such as insomnia, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Uses of CBD Oil
CBD has a wide array of uses, however, researchers need to do more experimentation to verify its effectiveness in helping relieve the symptoms of conditions like:
- Epilepsy
- Alzheimer’s
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Diabetes Type 1
- Cancer
However, substantial evidence is present to support the benefits of CBD in treating acne, anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, nausea, muscle pain, and symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
The Legality of CBD Oil
Although the world is met with a wave of cannabis legalization, many conditions surround its legality. Moreover, in many parts of the world, cannabis is still an illegal substance.
In countries such as the UK and Canada, cannabis and its products are legal. Nonetheless, there are restrictions based on its medical or recreational use and the level of THC content in it.
Meanwhile, in the US, cannabis is federally illegal as it is still present in the Drug Enforcement Authority’s (DEA) schedule I controlled substance list. On the contrary, many states of the US have introduced laws that legalize cannabis.
Consequently, the substance lies in a legal gray area in the US due to which there is no clear stance on the matter. Further complicating the situation, the Farm Bill 2018 legalizes the use, growth, and possession of cannabis with less than 0.3% THC.
Can Nurses Use CBD Oil?
Majorly, this depends from country to country. Living in a place where cannabis and its products are illegal, any form of association with the substance is a crime.
On the contrary, in a country where cannabis is legal, nurses may use CBD oil. However, they should consider the rules of their workplace, which vary from place to place.
Moreover, they need to consider the defects in the regulation of CBD oil. As per research, it has been observed that the label of the products usually misguides the consumers and shows different levels of CBD in the product than there is.
Furthermore, it is also very hard to be sure of the purity of the product. In some instances, authorities have tested nurses’ positive for THC even though they claim to have consumed CBD oil.
Additionally, not only is this a risk to their job, it is highly risky for their patients’ lives as well. They may be under the influence unknowingly and may make drastic mistakes.
EndNote
The majority of healthcare professionals are dedicated, passionate people who put other’s lives above their own. It is everyone’s personal call to make whether they are ready to put their career and conscience at such a high stake.
Photo by Kimzy Nanney on Unsplash