FAQ’s
“The biggest killer on the planet is stress and I still think the best medicine is and always has been cannabis.”
— Willie Nelson
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT CANNABIS:
-
Cannabis is extremely unique in the way that it interacts with each individual and there are a variety of factors that can impact your experience with cannabis. Generally, cannabis is considered safe for most individuals when consumed with education and intention. When you work with Vital Holistic Care, rest assured that all factors will be considered prior to making a suggested cannabinoid regime for you. There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach and we want to ensure we address all potential contraindications or restrictions specific to your body to minimize risks and maximize positive effects.
-
The short answer is no. If you have had any negative experiences with THC or you can not consume THC for any reason (even personal preference), we honour your decision. That being said, we are here to provide education and support to teach you how THC can be used intentionally, without having to experience the psychoactive effects, if that is undesirable to you. If you are still uncomfortable or unable to consume THC, there are many other beautiful cannabinoids to explore that can help you achieve your goals.
-
This depends on your personal preference. We will educate you on the two main options for purchasing cannabis products; medical platforms and recreational dispensaries. We will discuss the pros and cons of purchasing from either market so that you can make an informed decision on where to access your cannabis. If you do not have your medical cannabis documents, we are more than happy to help you obtain them. We can even accompany you to a local dispensary to learn how to effectively navigate these often overwhelming stores!
-
This will be determined through our extensive intake assessment. When you invest in a 1:1 Holistic Cannabis Nursing Support program, you will be sent a comprehensive questionnaire to help us make the most appropriate and effective product suggestions we can. When we sit down for our initial assessment, we will also be asking you other questions to determine your experience and comfort level with cannabis. Sometimes a little trial and error is required to find the best fit with your cannabis - each individual responds differently to various cannabinoids and terpenes, so we are there to help you make any necessary adjustments. Generally, though, we tend to suggest full spectrum or broad spectrum cannabis products; the closer to the natural form of the plant, the better!
-
Part of our intake questionnaire includes a section for you to document all your medications. It is extremely important for you to disclose all medications you are taking (prescription and otherwise) so that we can ensure there are no negative interactions with cannabinoids.
We will sometimes connect with your prescribing provider to discuss your intentions to introduce cannabis into your daily regime, especially if there are medications you are hoping to lower doses of or wean off from entirely. We understand and appreciate that some prescribed medications are absolutely essential, but we will help teach you how cannabis can be a beautiful support to some of those medications in helping lower doses or mitigate side effects. We will educate you on monitoring for any and all symptoms you may experience while consuming cannabis (even when no drug interactions are present), to ensure that you are not experiencing any undesirable effects throughout your journey.
-
Cannabis Use Disorder does exist for 10% of cannabis consuming populations. Some of the signs of CUD include in inability to stop using cannabis, consuming increasingly higher doses, experiencing withdrawal symptoms, or the discontinuation of previously enjoyed interests and activities.
Some people are predisposed to developing dependency or addiction to cannabis, however in most cases it is related to a genetic component. Our goal is to educate you to consume in an empowered and intentional way, while monitoring for any potential side effects and teaching you how to balance cannabinoids to help mitigate dependency on THC.
-
There have never been any recorded fatalities directly linked to the over-consumption of the NATURAL form of cannabis. There HAVE been overdose deaths related to the synthetic forms of cannabis (K2, Spice) and there have also been deaths related to risky behaviours caused by overconsumption of cannabis, but not from the cannabis itself. The reason for this: there are little to no cannabinoid receptors in the brainstem, the area of the brain that controls our breathing and heart rate.
That being said, a person CAN overconsume cannabis (particularly THC) and cause a variety of severe side effects including, but not limited to: nausea + vomiting, anxiety + paranoia, extreme confusion, elevated heart rate + blood pressure, delusions + hallucinations. Our mission is to teach you how to find your perfect dose that will help manage your symptoms without adding any unwanted side effects.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR PRACTICE:
-
The in-depth education and quality of support you will receive while under the care of Vital Holistic Care is what sets us apart. We spend 2-3 hours with you in our initial assessment to provide evidence-based education regarding all things related to cannabis; the history and stigmas associated with cannabis, the Endocannabinoid System, cannabinoids, terpenes, methods of administration, dosing guidelines, cautions + contraindications and ample opportunity for questions.
As Holistic Cannabis Nurses, we also strive to hold space for every individual we work with. We acknowledge that people are often turning to cannabis as a last resort or in times of great vulnerability. We therefore seek to understand you from a holistic perspective, because understanding all those parts that make up who you are is incredibly essential to helping you achieve your optimal sense of wellbeing. From this perspective we are able to provide an incredibly personalized suggested cannabinoid protocol that will align most closely with your needs.
Lastly, we help you understand how important it is to nourish your Endocannabinoid System, the master regulator of the body. Not only through cannabis, but through other healthy behaviours. Our services are aimed at a lifestyle change, not a quick bandaid fix to mask your symptoms. Dysfunction in the ECS is said to be the root cause of all human diseases, so we want you to approach cannabis as a means to nourish that system, giving you the capacity to engage in other healthy behaviours that will further nourish your ECS.
-
All of our Holistic Cannabis Nurses are required to have the following baseline educational requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from an accredited institution with a current + valid nursing license
The CIINDE’s Holistic Cannabis Nurse Program certification
Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR + First Aid certification
Our Holistic Cannabis Nurses must also have a minimum of 3 years experience working as a Registered Nurse in a clinical setting. When onboarded as contractors, the nurses go through a comprehensive orientation process to ensure a standardized level of skills and knowledge. For more info, visit our Careers page HERE
-
A Holistic Cannabis Nurse provides expert guidance and quality evidence-informed Endocannabinoid System education. They help individuals establish effective cannabinoid regimes that are used as tools to help manage symptoms and restore quality of life. They teach clients how to ebb and flow their cannabis dosing in response to a variety of factors, including but not limited to; stressful situations, illness and hormone fluctuations. They may also help advocate within the healthcare system to ensure clients’ needs are heard, respected, and met. Through holistic nursing support and education, the ultimate goal of a Holistic Cannabis Nurse is to leave clients feeling empowered, educated and unapologetic in their use of cannabis to care and support their ECS. For more information on the roles and qualifications of a Holistic Cannabis Nurse, visit our Careers page HERE
-
Depending on your benefit plan, yes. We are one of the first Holistic Cannabis Nursing practices to be recognized by benefits, namely Alberta Blue Cross. We therefore have the ability to direct bill to Alberta Blue Cross and are hoping to expand our direct billing capabilities to other benefit providers in the near future. When booking with us, we recommend reviewing your benefit plan coverage booklet for “Nursing Services”, as many of our clients have been able to submit our services to their plans under this category. Please let us know if you require a doctor’s note as we are able to help you access this.
-
Yes! You have the option of completing your intake assessment in-person, online, or by telephone. We recommend an in-person experience as it really enhances our ability to build rapport, educate, and provide support to you, however we can absolutely accommodate a virtual option if that is your preference. We do have nurses in all Western provinces, so let us know where you are located when booking our services so that we can best accommodate your needs.
-