Cannabis Public School (CPS), established in 2022 by Mo Smyth, BSN, RN, is built around the idea that cannabis education should be continuous rather than limited to a one-time class or a crisis. Clinicians, researchers, industry participants, patients, and people who are simply curious about cannabis gather for weekly Sunday sessions that make evidence-informed information available in a community setting.
The format creates space for different levels of experience. A new patient can enter the same conversation as a seasoned healthcare consumer or professional without needing to already understand the scientific vocabulary. Healthcare autonomy, patient rights, and harm reduction remain central to the discussions.
CPS also serves as the foundation for a more formal professional-education effort through SmythMed, which is developing continuing-education training for registered nurses. The inaugural four-hour nursing CE program is scheduled to open enrollment in October 2026 and is intended to give nurses practical frameworks for cannabis literacy and patient guidance.
That progression from open weekly education to professional training creates a multiplier effect. Public education reaches people making immediate decisions about cannabis, while nursing education can improve the quality of guidance patients receive inside healthcare settings.
Cannabis Public School reflects the Safety Signal Award by creating a recurring, accessible source of evidence-informed cannabis education and extending that learning into the professional workforce that patients rely on for care.
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“My son’s life changed the direction of mine, and his loss gave me a responsibility I never asked for: to turn what I learned into something that could help someone else. Every person I educate gives that knowledge another chance to reach someone who needs it.” — Mo Smyth, BSN, RN |
Learn more about Cannabis Public School: Cannabis Public School
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