Nurses who smoke marijuana

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I believe it is no employers business with what I do after work OFF duty. I have the right to smoke a joint if I want to. I'm a responsible adult MJ smoker and would never come into work stoned. Ever. I don't do any other drugs, drink alcohol, or smoke cigarettes. I do a great job, love my patients, always arrive to work on time, do what I'm supposed to do as a health professional.

Testing positive for a drug does not suggest impairment. I think we can all agree on that fact.

Tip for other MJ smokers:

From what I understand it is better to refuse to take a drug test knowing you will test positive than actually take the test; because your license could be revoked.

Drug testing is a clear violation of our 4th amendment rights.

Am I for drug tests? Absolutely. Pre-employment and poor job performance. Random? No way.:banghead:

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Marijuana has long been used to self medicate as well treat a variety of issues. It has the ability to help you unwind and relax--similar to ETOH. But it doesn't have the overdosage problem like ETOH. When was the last time you saw someone who beat their wife after smoking a joint--I never have. It is less dangerous than ETOH, but illegal.

The push behind keeping marijuana illegal is the drug companies. The last thing they want is competition for a medication that is cheap to produce, treats a variety of illnesses/issues and works with minimal side effects.

There will be a day when this drug is available without the being illegal. The world will be a better place to live. IMHO, make ETOH illegal and make marijuana legal.

Drug testing has gone overboard and does infringe on our civil rights.

That being said, I don't use marijuana and can pass a drug test with no problem. But I do feel for others who can't.

Same here. I am generally opposed to employers dictating what people can and cannot do on their off time, but since this is the system we have, I just go along so I don't have to worry about passing a UDS. I figure any marijuana use will have to wait until I retire from nursing. It's really an easy choice---I'd rather keep my RN license and be able to make a decent living than smoke MJ.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I have also smoked marijuana in my teen years, but stopped because somehow, it made me feel a bit paranoid...even though it is supposed to be a mellow high. Those days, they were worried about marijuna laced with angel dust, and some plant killer, so, who knows?

I haven't smoked it in YEARS and don't plan to, because it doesn't fit into my lifestyle and not worth my license, which is my bread and butter. Personally, I have no issues with a person that chooses to smoke during their private time, when they are off for a few days and do not come to work inpaired--maybe that is my definition of responsible smoking...

And, no, I have not seen any nurses that only use MJ recreationally divert drugs, put others at risk or are violent.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Most Drs. are weird any who...how can ya tell what is the cause?

:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Then work to change the law. But don't encourage nurses to break the law and smoke pot . . . . and no one here on this thread has been a part of anti-pot hysteria at least on this thread.

I think the discussion has been pointed towards logical consequences of disobeying a law when you have a nursing license.

steph

1) I have

2) I didn't

3) Actually I do see some mild hysteria here

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg.

NO, you don't have a "right" to smoke a joint on your off time, because it is ILLEGAL. Period.

I can't stand all the comparisons to alcohol use, because whether anyone likes it or not, use of alcohol is legal and pot is not. You don't have to agree with that, it's just the way it is. I personally rarely drink because I don't like to feel a loss of control, and for that reason I don't smoke pot either (oh yea...and because of the pesky law).

Give me a break, and GROW UP. If smoking is more important than your job, or a clean criminal record, absolutely.....continue.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

I'm sorry, but aren't we reHASHing old threads here?

(I apologise for that. It's been a long day. I will go now.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What some of the anti MJ people are not acknowledging is that pot is an effective drug that can be used to treat certain medical conditions. It has not become legal, in some part, because of the drug companies.

If a CHP officier pulled over someone smoking pot, they can be arrested even if they have an RX for it. It called driving under the influence and you can be arrested for it just as you can be arrested for driving while taking Ativan. An rx does not give you a blank slate to do what you want when you want with a medication. Every CHP officier knows this and he should be held responsible if he chose not to arrest an impaired driver.

People do not smoke pot "for a little fun." It's called self medication, and this occurs whether you smoke pot or drink ETOH. They are both drugs used to create a certain mindframe, but with one of them you can overdose on. The other drug is much safer in that aspect. One drug can creat violence and beligerence, the other mellowness.

If we obeyed all of the laws exactly as written, we would have a society that would encourage the likes of Hitler. Dissent, whether it be written in a forum like this or an actual breaking of the laws, is what brings change to society and ultimently a change in laws. Prohibition was repealed in this way.

Now, do you think if ETOH was introduced today it would be available over the counter with little restrictions place on it? It would be outlawed.

And as to "thinking of the myraid of people who would walk down the halls impaired" look at Canada. According to a Canadian post, Canada does not drug screen. Yet "the home of the free" does....despite illegal searches being against our constitutional rights.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in HomeHealth / geriatrics.

In regards to marijuana its a DRUG which means when you use it you are under the influence. Just because you think you responsibly USE DRUGS which makes absoluletly no sense what so ever. How can you justify yourself by doing drugs . Its like saying I'm an alcoholic but its ok I only drink when I'm not working. If your looking for validation from us by saying its ok to smoke weed when you have a RN license , and peoples lives are in your hands. I am not goin to sit here and agree with you . I am sorry but t it will catch up to you some how . My brother did weed which led to other drugs which led to PRISON and it destroyed my family and I lost a brother.

just my :twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Then work to change the law. But don't encourage nurses to break the law and smoke pot . . . . and no one here on this thread has been a part of anti-pot hysteria at least on this thread.

I think the discussion has been pointed towards logical consequences of disobeying a law when you have a nursing license.

steph

You keep pulling the "illegal" card but I can safely say that most people constantly break the law, including you. How often do people jaywalk, speed (even if it's 1 km over the speed limit), drink underage, commit traffic violations, download movies/music without paying, litter, don't wear a seat belt, use fireworks, don't report extra income, blah blah blah, I could go on and on.

Please don't act like a martyr; your self-righteous attitude in this thread is getting kind of tiresome.

If nurses want to smoke MJ, it's their prerogative, as long as they're not impaired while working, then what is it to you? People indulge in behaviours that have more negative effects than pot smoking, like drinking (an obvious one) and smoking (cancer, anyone?).

Oh and to the person who said it's hypocritical to promote health to a patient if you're an MJ smoker... how many times has someone educated an obese diabetic patient about the adverse effects of eating junk food high in carbs, and then went and ate a donut? or how about all the nurses who smoke and educate clients on the effects of tobacco?

Just because you indulge in some of this "less than desirable" behaviour, it does not make you a bad nurse.

We're all human, no one is perfect

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Just cause they had a script doesnt apply. If they were driving dangerously...they are DUI...just like any other med would be that impairs the driver....:monkeydance:

I know . . . .crazy, huh? :D

steph

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in HomeHealth / geriatrics.

Anything that is addicting is a drug including Alcohol ,pot, etc . And yes alcohol is illegal if you abuse your right to drink , such as driving and possibly taking someones life.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
In regards to marijuana its a DRUG which means when you use it you are under the influence. Just because you think you responsibly USE DRUGS which makes absoluletly no sense what so ever. How can you justify yourself by doing drugs . Its like saying I'm an alcoholic but its ok I only drink when I'm not working. If your looking for validation from us by saying its ok to smoke weed when you have a RN license , and peoples lives are in your hands. I am not goin to sit here and agree with you . I am sorry but t it will catch up to you some how . My brother did weed which led to other drugs which led to PRISON and it destroyed my family and I lost a brother.

just my :twocents:

Uh, just because someone drinks sometimes in their off time, doesn't mean they're an alcoholic. Same if someone smokes MJ in their off time, it doesn't make them a drug abuser. As someone in the healthcare industry you should be able to distinguish the difference.

It is unfortunate what happened to your brother, but some people are smarter than that and can keep it under control. There are plenty of people that seem "prominent" and then go home after work and light up a joint. Some of the people you'd least expect to use marijuana actually do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment