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Advancing Cannabis Nursing as a Recognized Specialty

The Minnesota Cannabis Nurses Association educates, empowers, and unites nurses in the advancement of cannabis therapeutics — championing safe, equitable access and nurse-led leadership across Minnesota.

Join the Association Our Mission
200+Nurse Members
7CE Programs
2021Est. Minnesota
What We Do

Three Pillars of Cannabis Nursing

Our work spans clinical education, community connection, and policy advocacy — unified by a commitment to patient safety and professional integrity.

Education & Training

Accredited continuing education programs covering pharmacology, dosing, drug interactions, patient counseling, and clinical documentation — designed by nurses, for nurses.

View Programs

Policy & Advocacy

Representing nurses at the Minnesota Capitol — shaping cannabis legislation that protects patients, professionalizes practice, and advances health equity.

Our Positions

Community & Connection

A professional network of nurses committed to ethical cannabis care — peer support, mentorship, and a shared voice for a specialty that healthcare can no longer ignore.

Become a Member
RN, Founder & Executive Director MNCNA
Nurse-Led Leadership

Founded by a Nurse.
Driven by Purpose.

"Nurses are already having these conversations at the bedside. We need the credentials, the community, and the policy framework to do it safely."

MNCNA was founded by a Registered Nurse who recognized a critical gap: patients were using cannabis, asking nurses about it, and receiving silence — not because nurses didn't care, but because they lacked the professional infrastructure to respond with confidence. MNCNA exists to fill that gap.

Our Full Story
Member Voices

Nurses on the Front Lines

"MNCNA gave me the language, the research, and the professional confidence to address cannabis with my patients — without fear of judgment."

— RN, Oncology, Twin Cities

"I joined for the CE credits. I stayed for the community. There's nothing else like MNCNA in Minnesota nursing."

— APRN, Pain Management, Duluth

"The advocacy training MNCNA provided helped me testify before the Minnesota Legislature. Nurses have a seat at the table now."

— LPN, Community Health, Rochester

Your Expertise Matters Here.

Whether you're a bedside nurse, an advanced practice provider, or a nurse educator — MNCNA is your professional home for cannabis care.

Join Today Partner with Us
Who We Are

About MNCNA

A nurse-led nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cannabis as an integrated component of holistic health practice — statewide and nationally.

Mission

Our Mission

To educate, empower, and unite Minnesota nurses in the advancement of cannabis therapeutics by providing professional support, continuing education, and community advocacy. We champion safe, equitable access to cannabis medicine and uplift nurses as leaders in this evolving space.

Vision

Our Vision

We envision a Minnesota where all nurses are cannabis-informed, patients have access to compassionate and knowledgeable care, and cannabis is integrated into holistic health practices statewide. Our community of nurses leads with integrity, healing, and science in shaping the future of cannabis care.

Core Belief
Cannabis nursing is not optional. Patients are already using cannabis. The only question is whether their nurses are prepared to meet them there.

Core Values

What We Stand For

Education

Evidence-based knowledge for clinical confidence. Every curriculum, protocol, and resource is grounded in peer-reviewed research and best practice.

Compassion

Patient-first, stigma-free, culturally competent care. We meet patients where they are, without judgment.

Advocacy

Protecting patient rights and ensuring nurse inclusion in cannabis law. We represent nursing at every policy table.

Integrity

Upholding the ethical and professional standards of the nursing profession in everything we do.

Community

Building strong, inclusive networks of support for nurses across Minnesota and beyond.

MNCNA official seal — caduceus with cannabis leaf over state of Minnesota, surrounded by organization name
Our History

How We Got Here

From a single conversation to a statewide voice — the MNCNA story is a story of nurses refusing to be left behind.

  1. 2019

    The Conversation Begins

    An RN recognizes the gap: patients are using cannabis, but nurses have no training, no policy, and no peer network to support them.

  2. 2021

    MNCNA Founded

    The Minnesota Cannabis Nurses Association officially incorporates as a nonprofit. First membership cohort enrolls.

  3. 2022

    First CE Curriculum Launched

    MNCNA releases its inaugural continuing education program, drawing nurses from across Minnesota.

  4. 2023

    Legislative Testimony

    MNCNA nurses testify before the Minnesota Legislature on cannabis legalization — the first organized nursing voice in MN cannabis policy.

  5. 2024–25

    Growing the Specialty

    Partnership programs, expanded CE offerings, and a growing national network of cannabis nursing peers. The specialty is here to stay.

Leadership

Board of Directors

MNCNA is governed by a volunteer board of licensed nurses committed to advancing the specialty with integrity and evidence.

Executive Director

RN, BSN — Founding member and visionary behind MNCNA's education and advocacy framework.

Director of Education

APRN, DNP — Oversees curriculum development and continuing education accreditation.

Director of Policy

RN, JD — Leads MNCNA's legislative engagement and regulatory comment processes.

Director of Community

LPN — Manages member engagement, mentorship programs, and regional chapter development.

Join MNCNA

Become a Member

Your membership funds continuing education, advocacy, and the professional infrastructure that Minnesota nurses deserve. Join a community leading the future of cannabis care.

Membership Tiers

Choose Your Level

All members receive access to our peer network, discounted CE, and legislative updates.

Student Nurse
$35
per year
  • Digital membership card
  • Member newsletter
  • 50% off CE programs
  • Online peer community
  • Annual summit discount
Get Started
Most Popular
Professional RN
$95
per year
  • All Student benefits
  • Full CE library access
  • Member directory listing
  • Legislative action alerts
  • MNCNA credential letter
  • Mentorship matching
  • Summit discount
Join Now
Institutional Partner
Custom
annual partnership
  • Up to 20 staff memberships
  • On-site CE delivery
  • Co-branded programming
  • Policy consultation
  • Annual impact report
  • Advisory board seat
Contact Us

Scholarship Program
MNCNA believes financial barriers should never limit professional development. Partial and full membership scholarships are available. Apply here.

What You Gain

Membership Benefits in Detail

An investment in your clinical competency, your professional identity, and your patients' safety.

  • CE Credits — Accredited programs covering cannabis pharmacology, drug interactions, documentation, and patient counseling.
  • Peer Network — Connect with cannabis-informed nurses across Minnesota and nationally through our private community.
  • Legislative Voice — Your membership funds MNCNA's policy work and keeps you informed on legislation that affects your practice.
  • Annual Summit — Minnesota's only professional nursing event focused exclusively on cannabis therapeutics.
  • Clinical Resources — Member-only access to dosing guides, patient handouts, assessment tools, and evidence-based protocols.
CE Programs & Training

Cannabis Nursing Education

Accredited, evidence-based continuing education for licensed nurses — built by clinicians who understand what you face at the bedside.

2025 CE Catalog

Current Offerings

Foundations

Cannabis 101 for Nurses

Comprehensive introduction to cannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system, pharmacology, and patient assessment. Required for all new members.

🕐 3.0 CE Credits💻 Online, Self-Paced
Enroll
Clinical Practice

Drug Interactions & Safety

In-depth review of cannabis drug interactions, contraindications, special populations, and harm-reduction counseling frameworks.

🕐 2.0 CE Credits💻 Online, Self-Paced
Enroll
Documentation

Charting Cannabis Use

How to document cannabis use accurately, legally, and without bias — protecting patients and nurses in an evolving regulatory environment.

🕐 1.5 CE Credits💻 Online, Self-Paced
Enroll
Patient Counseling

Cannabis Conversations at the Bedside

Communication frameworks for discussing cannabis — covering screening, stigma reduction, motivational interviewing, and shared decision-making.

🕐 2.0 CE Credits💻 Online or Live
Enroll
Policy & Law

MN Cannabis Law for Nurses

Minnesota-specific legal landscape: medical cannabis program, adult-use regulations, scope of practice, and the Nurse Practice Act.

🕐 1.5 CE Credits💻 Online, Self-Paced
Enroll
Summit 2025

Annual Cannabis Nursing Summit

Full-day in-person conference in Minneapolis featuring keynotes, CE workshops, panel discussions, and professional networking.

🕐 6.0 CE Credits📍 Minneapolis, MN
Register

Want CE Delivered to Your Unit?

MNCNA offers on-site and virtual CE programs for hospitals, clinics, and health systems. Contact us to build a custom program for your team.

Request Institutional CE
Policy & Advocacy

Nurses at the Capitol

Cannabis policy is health policy. MNCNA ensures registered nurses have a seat at every table where cannabis decisions are made in Minnesota.

Our Positions

What We Advocate For

MNCNA's policy positions are developed through member input, clinical evidence, and equity analysis. We advocate for what we know: safe, evidence-based, patient-centered cannabis care.

  • Recognition of cannabis nursing as a formal specialty within the Minnesota Board of Nursing framework
  • Mandatory cannabis education requirements in all pre-licensure nursing programs
  • Explicit scope-of-practice guidance for RNs and APRNs engaging patients on cannabis use
  • Inclusion of nurses in state cannabis regulatory advisory bodies
  • Equity-centered cannabis policy that addresses racial disparities in enforcement and access
  • Funding for cannabis-related nursing research through state and federal channels
Legislative Tracker

Active Legislation

Active — Monitoring

HF 2310 — Cannabis Workforce Development Act

Would require healthcare training programs to include cannabis pharmacology education. MNCNA submitted formal comments in support.

Monitoring

SF 1884 — Medical Cannabis Patient Protections

Clarifies patient rights around employment and housing. MNCNA supports with amendments to strengthen provider guidance provisions.

Proposed

MN Board of Nursing — Cannabis Practice Standards

MNCNA is drafting a formal petition to the MN Board of Nursing to establish guidance on cannabis in nursing practice.

Take Action

Your Voice Matters

Nurses are among the most trusted voices in American healthcare. Use that trust.

Contact Your Legislator

MNCNA members receive templated letters and talking points to contact Minnesota legislators about cannabis nursing policy.

Get the Template

Testify at the Capitol

MNCNA provides testimony training for nurses who want to speak before legislative committees. Nurses change minds when they speak from clinical experience.

Apply to Testify

Amplify on Social

Share MNCNA's policy updates, research, and calls to action with your professional network. Tag us — we'll amplify you back.

Follow MNCNA
Clinical Resources

Resources for Nurses

Practical tools, research, and references for nurses navigating cannabis in clinical settings. Some resources are member-exclusive.

Clinical Tools

Practice Resources

Cannabis Use Assessment Tool (MNCNA-CAT)

A validated screening and documentation tool for RNs to assess cannabis use at intake, designed for EHR integration.

Members Only

Cannabis Drug Interaction Reference

Comprehensive interaction chart covering cannabis/CBD interactions with common medications, updated quarterly.

Members Only

Patient Education Handout — Cannabis & Your Medications

Plain-language patient handout available in English, Spanish, and Somali. Free to download and distribute.

Free Download

Minnesota Cannabis Law Summary for Nurses (2025)

Current, plain-language summary of MN cannabis law and implications for nursing practice.

Free Download
Research & Evidence

Curated Literature

MNCNA maintains an annotated bibliography of peer-reviewed cannabis nursing research, updated monthly.

MNCNA Evidence Review: Cannabis for Chronic Pain

A nurse-authored systematic review of the evidence base for cannabis in chronic pain management, with practice implications.

Member Access

2024 MN Cannabis Nursing Practice Survey

MNCNA's original survey of 200+ Minnesota nurses on cannabis knowledge, patient interactions, and training needs.

Free Access

American Cannabis Nurses Association (ACNA)

MNCNA's national partner — additional resources, certifications, and standards from the national cannabis nursing community.

Visit ACNA
Get in Touch

Contact MNCNA

Reach Us

We welcome inquiries from nurses, healthcare organizations, policymakers, media, and anyone committed to advancing cannabis care in Minnesota.

Location

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Serving nurses statewide and nationally

Email

info@mncna.org

Partnership Inquiries

partners@mncna.org

Media & Press

media@mncna.org

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Commitment to Access

Accessibility Statement

Last reviewed: January 2025

The Minnesota Cannabis Nurses Association (MNCNA) is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We continually improve the user experience and apply the relevant accessibility standards.

Our Standard

We aim to conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA.

Measures We Have Taken

  • Skip-navigation link at the top of every page (WCAG 2.4.1)
  • Semantic HTML landmark regions: header, nav, main, footer, article, section
  • Logical H1–H4 heading hierarchy on every page
  • All images include descriptive alternative text
  • Color contrast ratios meet or exceed 4.5:1 for normal text
  • Color is never the sole means of conveying information
  • All interactive elements are keyboard accessible with a visible gold focus ring
  • Forms include visible labels, required-field indicators, and inline ARIA error messages
  • ARIA live regions announce dynamic content changes
  • Base font size 18px; scales to 200% without content loss
  • Animations respect the prefers-reduced-motion media query
  • Print styles provided for clean document output

Feedback & Contact

We welcome feedback on the accessibility of this site. If you experience barriers, please contact us at accessibility@mncna.org. We aim to respond within 5 business days.