Legalization of recreational marijuana

U.S.A. Colorado

Published

As most of you all know, Colorado just approved recreational marijuana use. Does this mean that someone could test positive for THC and not face any repercussions?? I know you could not be intoxicated at work but if it is legal then how could it be held against you???

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

People: learn to use the quote feature please!

Referenced post removed.

I think a person should be able to do what they want on there days off. I'm sure someone will say I don't want you taking care of my family blah, blah, blah. And I can understand there concerns to a point. But how many Nurses & other health care providers do you know that are on antipsychotics, etc. They scare me. If a person does come to work stoned, drunk, they should be sent home or fired. Most healthcare folks are so stressed out they need to smoke a joint. It's ******** you can't take anything for pain also. Of course on days off. Why do nurses have to suffer. By the time we can retire our backs are destroyed, bodies ravaged with arthritis, nerves shot, and tempers short. The nursing oath is outdated b. s.. We have to suffer to make others happy? No wonder there are so many people leaving nursing. How many nurses do you see that truly look happy with there job. Don't get me wrong I know several enjoy being a nurse. But do the majority of nurses look happy? The majority I've worked with ***** constantly and are always trying to get coworkers in trouble or they're talking about coworkers. A person can only give & take so much. A lot of docs are alcoholics, potheads, or cokeheads. Drugs are ok as long as the FDA approves them? The majority of those are approved because the drug companies are giving bribes. You don't see people who smoke pot doing some of the terrible things like people on antipsychotics we see on the news. Times are changing and eventually the government will control what we put in our bodies anyways. So live why you can.

Specializes in Mother-Baby Pediatrics.

Thank you. Its crazy isn't it? People are so worked up about marijuana and eat like &%#$. I now have my response ready to go the next time someone talks about things going to &^## in a hand basket because we have legalized marijuana in Oregon. I just hope people use it wisely and don't get into car accidents - people are so blind to how damaging alcohol is, when they think marijuana they think out of control hippies

Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU, Emergency, Psych, Art Therapy.

This is an old post, but I do want to add that not all marijuana is smoked. Many people use marijuana legitimately for pain, anxiety, and to alleviate other symptoms, and never smoke it. It can be ingested in many ways via food product, tincture, or synthesized into a traditional tablet like a medication. It can be made into a lotion and ointment... I've even heard of THC bubble baths for people with chronic pain and THC lubricants for sexual arousal.

Smoking is harmful in general and causes lung damage, whether it's a cigarette or a joint. Some people use a vaporizer, but via inhalation I suspect that also negatively affects lung tissue.

If marijuana is going to ever be taken seriously as a medical or recreational treatment, I think more studies need to be conducted and it's safety is going to have to be proven. People need to see it as an alternative treatment and not a taboo "stoner" past time... And perhaps smoking it is not the healthiest way of benefitting from it? We need to have more studies to indicate the safest and most effective way it can be used for various treatments.

Many medications are derived from a natural source. Aspirin is generally found in the bark of a willow tree. Digoxin comes from foxglove, which is used homeopathically in the same way dig is... foxglove can also kill you... so it has potential for danger as well. That doesn't mean we don't use it for it's positive medical attributes.

Think outside the box.

Oh, and FTR I do not smoke, but if I ever have the misfortune to become impaired by a condition or disease, I would hope our country has an open mind to consider alternative treatments instead of OR in addition to the conventional treatments being used today.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Digoxin comes from foxglove, which is used homeopathically in the same way dig is....

No, foxglove is not used homeopathically the way Digoxin is.

Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU, Emergency, Psych, Art Therapy.

@klone foxglove (aka digitalis) is used homeopathically/naturopathically for cardiac arrhythmias and slow pulse... though it does have other uses... Digitalis Purpurea - Homeopathic Remedies What do you use it for?

I don't use or administer it personally, but have read a lot about how it can be used... my point was that natural remedies can come from a dangerous plant and i don't see why marijuana isn't being viewed with the same potential

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
@klone foxglove (aka digitalis) is used homeopathically/naturopathically for cardiac arrhythmias and slow pulse... though it does have other uses... Digitalis Purpurea - Homeopathic Remedies What do you use it for?

Homeopathy and herbalism are not the same thing. Digoxin is derived from the plant foxglove (botanical name is Digitalis) but I've never heard of a reputable medical practitioner using homeopathic remedies to treat cardiac arrhythmias. Since there is no scientific evidence that homeopathy works, and all.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

And as far as marijuana - it IS being studied as an herbal remedy for many ailments. Until recently, it was very difficult to get funding for research, but there are currently MANY studies on the properties of marijuana and its uses. But just because it's an herb and it may have therapeutic uses does not make it benign, and it can have many therapeutic uses and still be mind-altering, such that its use is not allowed by many employers.

Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU, Emergency, Psych, Art Therapy.

I personally know reputable homeopathic practitioners who do use digitalis as a treatment for arrhythmias and slow pulse, in conjunction with other treatments, but again, not the point of my post. I do understand there is research being conducted in regards to marijuana being used medicinally. The general tone of my original post was to express my disappointment with the stigma surrounding a potentially beneficial herb. That is all.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Well, it's been criminalized for 100 years. It's going to take more than a year or two for the stigma to be removed.

omg i'm trying to get the hell out of nursing just so i can have some peace of mind and smoke some pot on my day off. My nursing license should not be taken away for me smoking a joint on my day off :( . I have not consumed alcohol since 2008 though , and alcohol is the worst of the worst drug. I hope it's ok to smoke in Colorado or Washington someday lol

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