Laura Barrett, MBA, BSN, RN, widely known as “Nurse Laura,” is a published author, clinician, educator, and policy leader whose work focuses on harm reduction, patient advocacy, and ethical access to cannabis and psychedelic-assisted therapies. She is the author of Bridge to Healing, which examines preparation and integration practices in psychedelic medicine.

She is the Founder and Executive Director of the National Clinical Director Consortium, Owner and Operator of Ask Nurse Laura, and serves on the boards of multiple nonprofit organizations, including the Connor Sheffield Foundation. Barrett holds a leadership role on the Maryland Task Force for the Responsible Use of Psychedelics and serves on the Policy and Advisory Committee for Americans for Safe Access and the Policy Committee for the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. She is a member of the Health Advocacy Network for Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, aligning her work with evidence-based approaches to compassionate drug policy. She is actively engaged with the Cannabis Nurses Network and the American Cannabis Nurses Association, contributing to interdisciplinary dialogue and policy development.

Her work emphasizes reducing harm and advocating for populations that are often medically, socially, or structurally marginalized, including individuals living with chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, brain-based disorders, and veterans. She educates clinicians, policymakers, and communities on cannabis and psychedelic-assisted therapies using a trauma-informed, patient-centered, and ethics-based framework. She is teaching faculty at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy for the Master's of Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program. She is a faculty fellow for the University Psychedelic Education Program (U-PEP) 2026 Cohort. She serves as Chairperson of the National Cannabis Nurse Task Force at the University of Miami. Her experience spans all plant-touching sectors of the cannabis industry, informing her ability to integrate regulatory knowledge, emerging science, and patient-reported outcomes into applied public health practice. Grounded in nursing ethics and moral courage, Barrett’s work advances compassionate, evidence-informed care while advocating for those who cannot readily advocate for themselves.