Nurses Who Smoke Marijuana

Nurses Recovery

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I am currently taking my prerequisites for Nursing. I know two nurses, one is a friend of my mothers and she is a Nurse Practitioner and my boyfriend's mother is a charge nurse in the ICU. Both of them smoke Marijuana (occasionally) and they haven't had any issues with their career. Although I have seen a thread on allnurses talking about a woman being fired from her job because she tested positive for Marijuana during a random drug test at work. So my question is, why do some people get FIRED for smoking marijuana but some don't and continue to advance in their career with no issues? Is it just because they didn't get caught through drug testing? Do Nurses know when their employers will be giving drug tests or how often?

Thanks!

Best post in this horribly misinformed thread. The ignorance regarding marijuana that exists in so many people is astounding. I'm sure they are completely ignorant as to why it became illegal in the first place. The growing body of evidence regarding the benefits of cannabis use in adults, especially when being used medicinally (in replace of the prescription synthetic heroin prescribed by doctors getting paid by pharmaceutical companies) is astounding. The fact that someone used cannabis 2 weeks ago and can get fired for being at work totally un-impaired due to a positive urine test is disgusting. Luckily, there are devices being produced now that can detect impairment in real time, not just THC that could have been in your body for weeks. How about we start firing fat nurses who take longer than fit nurses to waddle over to get the crash cart during a code? I've seen nurses huff and puff because they had to quickly walk to get a crash cart or defibrillator. Maybe the patient would have lived if they were defibrillated 20 seconds earlier? Sounds insane, right?

I could not agree with you more! I am so tired of reading the posts of IGNORANT nurses. I thought out perspectives were supposed to be born out of evidence. Most of what I read regarding people's (and even nurse's) opinions about marijuana is based upon assumptions and prejudices and have nothing to do with science. I'm tired of it. NURSES, WAKE UP! Actually do the research and know what you're talking about before you spout of about anything, including marijuana. When you write or speak about a subject without knowing what you're talking about, when you don't come from a perspective based upon evidence or logical scrutiny, you make the rest of us nurses look like idiots. Another way of putting it: Don't fly off the handle like an idiot redneck or some uneducated stay-at-home mom because you do a real disservice to the profession of nursing.

2 Votes

I think that you don't understand why some nurses want to legalize marijuana because this subject represents a ceiling for your capacity to think logically. In other words, you're simply not smart or sophisticated enough to wrap your head around what many would otherwise consider to not be that difficult of a subject to understand. It is, however, difficult for you to understand and herein lies the problem. Perhaps it was a severe upbringing? Perhaps you're too prejudiced or closed-minded? Perhaps you don't understand the concept of people doing something different from what you would do? Perhaps you think marijuana is like crack? Perhaps you think marijuana will make everyone become an instant serial rapist? Perhaps it's against your religion?

It doesn't matter why you're unable to grasp the concept. The point is this: Although marijuana's legalization is currently impeded by the ignorant likes of you as well as pharmaceutical companies, its federal legalization is inevitable. When it does become legal, those of you who are terrified of its legalization can run to the hills of Utah and form some sort of Christian anti-marijuana commune. I'd be careful, though. Water is disappearing fast in the western parts of the United States and I suspect that it will be even more difficult to come by if you're living outside the protective realm of a municipality.

2 Votes

@ whatever comes: I'm not sure what prompted you to pick up an old thread & post as you did. I personally think you need to take your own advice before going off on a rant & bashing others. Bottom line, it doesn't matter one bit what you- or anyone else- thinks. Marijuana is illegal in the eyes of the BON & you can lose your license over it. End of story.

1 Votes
Specializes in ICU.

Waiting for you to quit showing your own ignorance and give us some of the research that you think should be in this thread. That was about the most useless reply I've read all day.

1 Votes
Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
whatever comes said:
I think that you don't understand why some nurses want to legalize marijuana because this subject represents a ceiling for your capacity to think logically. In other words, you're simply not smart or sophisticated enough to wrap your head around what many would otherwise consider to not be that difficult of a subject to understand. It is, however, difficult for you to understand and herein lies the problem. Perhaps it was a severe upbringing? Perhaps you're too prejudiced or closed-minded? Perhaps you don't understand the concept of people doing something different from what you would do? Perhaps you think marijuana is like crack? Perhaps you think marijuana will make everyone become an instant serial rapist? Perhaps it's against your religion?

It doesn't matter why you're unable to grasp the concept. The point is this: Although marijuana's legalization is currently impeded by the ignorant likes of you as well as pharmaceutical companies, its federal legalization is inevitable. When it does become legal, those of you who are terrified of its legalization can run to the hills of Utah and form some sort of Christian anti-marijuana commune. I'd be careful, though. Water is disappearing fast in the western parts of the United States and I suspect that it will be even more difficult to come by if you're living outside the protective realm of a municipality.

Belligerent much?

1 Votes

I know this is an old post but I just wanted to add that I was reading somewhere that in states where it is legal ,nurses have to sign a form that they will follow federal law. And Marijuana is still illegal under federal law. Crazy...I wonder if this will change if federal law changes. And yes, I think it is quite sad as well.

1 Votes
Specializes in PCA, HHA.

My personal stance on the matter is this. Where as I support the legalization of cannabis and research towards it for holistic medical use. I choose to actively support that! In use in with groups such as NORML and groups such as this one

http://www.americancannabisnursesassociation.org

BUT as someone that works In the medical field as an HHA and that wants to move to getting a CNA and I work even in the veterinary field ( or plan to as a vet tech student) I know that abstaining from such activity even if I support it ,at this point in time is the best thing to do. With laws and legality issues being what they are ,it is just simply the wiser thing to do. To not use even if you are pro legalization.I have in the past and some what in the present smoked but as of right now I am choosing to stop. BUT ITS NOT CAUSE I DONT BELIEVE THAT IT HAS PROS AND BENAFITS TO IT, it's because I know it is a controversial issue and until further changes occur it's best to keep it away from yourself due to your job security if anything at all!

You our can be pro legalization without putting your self at risk of losing your job or your career. If you want to support growth of it do it in the safe legally available options we have for yourselves. So I am choosing now! To stop smoking and to clean up ! And to approach my opinion on the matter a different way.

I personally think it's merely a matter of time that all states legalize it and its legal on a national level. But until all that goes down I think it's best to be smart with your decisions.

1 Votes

Been smoking 45 yrs and been a nurse anesthetist owned several health care businesses Inc home health hospice and an infusion company. Promote med Marijuana and would like all nurses to relax and smoke one. Booze kills everything.

1 Votes
elkpark said:
I don't have any personal experience or knowledge, but I do know that some members have posted here in the past that the BONs in some states do not allow individuals taking psychoactive medications (like Ativan) with a rx, under a physician's supervision, to practice. No psychoactive meds, period, with or without a rx.

This must differ from state to state. As far as I know the only drug that is absolutely not allowed in mine is methadone (which I personally believe is less impairing than some of the allowed drugs but that's the way it is. )

Every pre hire drug test I've gone to they ask you to disclose your meds and if it's Ativan or something they ask for the bottle or md note and that's it.

1 Votes
subee said:
Just because someone has a prescription for a drug does Not mean that they are free to work while under the effects if the drug.

There are no medical indications for MJ with the exceptions of HIV and MS. Being in a diversion program for years and having to hire a lawyer made my decision to quit quite easy.

This also is state dependant. My state has I think about 12 conditions including epilepsy, maybe ptsd, a bunch of others. And they are adding more.

The unique issue here is that, as others have said, it is still federally illegal regardless of prescription status.. I could see where that could make it a no go no matter what your state law is.

1 Votes
icuRNmaggie said:
Would that make possession of a small amount a misdemeanor and not a felony?

No. I have lived in cities which have decriminalization mj. You got a 25$ fine for possession- much like a speeding ticket. No record unless you don't pay.

1 Votes
Specializes in RNC-MNN, L&D/Postpartum/AP/PACU, CLC.
subee said:
Just because someone has a prescription for a drug does Not mean that they are free to work while under the effects if the drug.

There are no medical indications for MJ with the exceptions of HIV and MS. Being in a diversion program for years and having to hire a lawyer made my decision to quit quite easy.

Actually, there are quite a few other medical indications including glaucoma and PTSD, but none of that matters. If your state, state BON, or facility prohibits it, then that's it. It can be legal all day long and still not allowed. Opiates are legal if you have a prescription and a medical indication to use them. We all know that means you still can't show up at work with opiates in your system. Unfortunately, testing for marijuana is not sophisticated enough to determine when you used it or whether you are currently high.

I live in a state where marijuana is legal for both medical and recreational use. At every facility, there is a statement of understanding to sign that says that you cannot use marijuana while an employee. Whether you think that is stupid, or whether it is empirically stupid, is irrelevant. If you get tested and THC or THC metabolites are present, you are subject to disciplinary action and may be at risk for losing your nursing license. Some facilities go so far as to say that their ability to dispense medications is governed by Federal law and therefore marijuana use among employees who may prescribe or dispense or administer medication is prohibited by Federal law.

I voted for marijuana to be legal in this state, despite the fact that so long as I'm working as a nurse, I won't be able to partake because I know it is not worth it. Truthfully, I am just not lucky enough to take the chance. Even as a kid, if everybody was doing something wrong, I'd be the one to get caught and made into an example. That is not a big deal if you are taping a "kick me" sign to someone's back, but substance use while holding an RN license is. Again, it is just not worth my license to risk it.

Should there be a more sophisticated test in the future and should the BON and facility where I work happen to allow off-duty marijuana as they do alcohol, I'll probably try it now and again on a weekend. I haven't had any since the age of 18, so waiting for it to become legal, which I believe it will, is not really a big sacrifice for me. I really think that if it is a big sacrifice for someone, they need to give some serious consideration to why that might be true.

1 Votes
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