Nurse Karen is a mom to 3 young children and a nurse who specializes in Cannabis Medicine. She has both personal and professional experience working with individuals who have special needs. Karen began her nursing career with the Mayo Clinic working in Pediatrics. To gain further nursing experience, Nurse Karen also spent time working in Adult Health, Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care, Geriatrics and Hospice.
Nurse Karen’s professional cannabis education began several years ago. She is certified by Cloverleaf University, Cannabis Careers Institute and is a member of the American Cannabis Nurses Association. She is passionate about teaching patients and families how medical marijuana can help them!
Most recently, Nurse Karen was employed by Vireo Health which now holds cannabis dispensing and cultivation licenses in multiple states. During her time with Vireo, Karen was Director of Patient Services and had the privilege of working with some of the most challenging medical cannabis patients in the country. Karen has consulted with medical marijuana patients ranging from as young as 9 months old to 94 years old and has seen some miraculous results!
Doctor Laura is excited to bring her background in cannabis clinical practice, clinical medicine, research and molecular biology to benefit debilitated Montana patients seeking relief from cannabis. She is dedicated to staying abreast of cannabinoid science progression and relaying that knowledge to aid suffering patients. In 2014, she assembled that knowledge into a handbook for medical marijuana doctors with over 140 references (Medical Cannabis Primer for Healthcare Professionals). She has extensive experience in highly regulated cannabis markets, has developed treatment algorithms as well as clinical and compliance reporting plans. Through a variety of media, she is developing patient educational materials and physician outreach efforts.
Doctor Laura has practiced medicine in multiple settings, from small community hospitals to busy urban academic centers, which provided exposure to a spectrum of patient experiences. Her experience highlighted the diverse and urgent needs of patients regarding pain management and the pitfalls of some traditional medications, and led to her interest in alternative approaches such as medical cannabis.
Doctor Laura is a member of the American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine and the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, and adheres to the associated quality standards.