The Cannabis Nurse You Can Call: Katherine Golden of Leaf411

​Katherine Golden, RN, is the Founder, CEO, and Executive Director of Leaf411, a nonprofit organization offering free, nurse-led cannabis education and guidance. She is also the Founder and CEO of Leaf Nurse Network, a staffing agency for cannabis nurses, and a Cannabis Case Coordinator at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. With over 22 years of nursing experience, Katherine is a certified cannabis nurse educator and an advocate for healthcare equity, working to ensure safe and informed cannabis use for all. 

In this episode…

Misinformation and stigma around cannabis use persist, especially in healthcare. Patients worry about addiction, fear overdosing, or assume they must feel “high” to benefit from cannabis medicine. How can education and advocacy help shift these perceptions and empower safe, effective cannabis use?

According to cannabis nurse and therapeutics expert Katherine Golden, cannabis cannot cause fatal overdoses because it doesn’t suppress vital functions like breathing, unlike opioids. To address fears of overuse or dependency, she recommends asking patients clarifying questions about their cannabis use patterns and educating them on the difference between dependence — relying on cannabis for symptom relief and addiction — compulsive use despite negative consequences. Clear communication, microdosing strategies, and building awareness around the endocannabinoid system are crucial for altering the narrative around cannabis consumption.

In today’s episode of Marketing That POPs, Olivia Johnson and Michele Ringelberg hear from Katherine Golden, the Founder, CEO, and Executive Director of Leaf411, about cannabis education in the healthcare sector. She discusses marketing challenges in a heavily regulated environment, her company’s partnership with local dispensaries, and how cannabis can integrate with traditional medical treatments.