Any med centers that are not critical of time-off marijuana consumption?

[Fluidified]

It is hypocritical of us, as medical professionals, to judge people who use marijuana as their medicine. If we truly embody the idea of beneficence, and the nurse uses this sacred plant as they would for responsible alcohol consumption, there should be no reason that a governing body of others should be able to restrict that freedom.

I would love to hear from like-minded nurses, as I am not interested in engaging in a debate over this topic.

[klone, MSN, RN]

With only 2 posts, I don't think you can accept or send PMs. Good luck in your pursuit. Maybe try craigslist?

[Fluidified]

Thank you for the advice Klone. My e-mail address I can be reached at is also listed in my profile.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

considering the AMA has also not approved usage by physicians. I'm going to think that you are going to have a difficult time finding a position that allows recreational use.

Physicians who legally use medical marijuana to treat their own debilitating conditions such as chronic pain or nausea are considered unsafe to practice medicine in the state of Colorado until such time that they no longer need the treatment, according to a policy from the Colorado Physician Health Program.

"We took a conservative stance," Doris Gundersen, MD, Medical Director of the Colorado Physician Health Program, told Medscape Medical News after her presentation here at the International Conference on Physician Health (ICPH). "We don't want to deny them treatment...but until they no longer need it, or we have better ways of correlating impairment, they can't practice."

She said Colorado is the first state to come up with such a policy, prompted by reports of physicians who were legally using the substance. "The medical board appealed to us about how to manage this, there were several physicians referred and we happened to see they were also using marijuana — they had legitimate [Medical Marijuana Registry identification] cards," she said.

"This is where we got a little nervous. All of the associate medical directors at the Colorado Physician Health Program are psychiatrists and addiction specialists, and we recognized very quickly that this may not be compatible with practicing medicine safely.... We don't want physicians excluded from treatment that they need, but at the same time we need to protect the public," Dr. Gundersen said.

Physicians Who Use Marijuana are 'Unsafe to Practice' medscape...you need to register but it is free.

You need 15 quality posts to access the messaging system

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I love this topic. I think that every new grad should use recreational marijuana. That would put a stop to the nursing unemployment issue. There will be plenty of nursing positions available to me when all of them fail their pre-hire drug test.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

The nursing board does frown on it:roflmao: I suppose you just need to find a job where they do not do drug testing. I am sure there are plenty of places that do not. Although all big hospitals and medical groups probably do. At least for new hires.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I do not partake, but I do sort of feel what people do on their own time is none of anyone's business as long as they do not go to work impaired.

[Fluidified]

Esme12, what was against the TOS from my post?

And I also agree with you in the sense that no professional should be getting high (or drunk, or taking pain meds) prior to his or her shift. However, my concern is solely with regard to the fact that it is unethical to require employees to only use one mind-altering substance (alcohol or nicotine) and not be able to use a legally-identical (on the state level) alternative (marijuana).

[Satori77, ADN]

I agree, one should be able to use marijuana either medically or recreationally. But unfortunately, unlike alcohol or cigarettes, it is still illegal on a federal level. Until that changes, employers that drug test will not allow you to use it.

[klone, MSN, RN]

I agree, one should be able to use marijuana either medically or recreationally. But unfortunately, unlike alcohol or cigarettes, it is still illegal on a federal level. Until that changes, employers that drug test will not allow you to use it.

Even if it does change, employers may still not allow you to use it. Cigarettes are legal, but many hospitals do not allow its use.

And while it is still technically illegal on a federal level, the Attorney General has said that they are not going to pursue marijuana use or sale in Colorado or Washington.

[COknights10]

Just because marijuana is legal on a state or federal level, that doesn't mean an employer can't make it prohibited on their own institutional level. Nicotine is legal but I've heard of plenty of hospitals that include nicotine in their drug test and dont hire tobacco users. It's kinda up to their discretion.

There's also the matter of marijauna legalization still being so new that they havent come up on a standardized way to establish levels of intoxication with drug testing, like they can with your BAC. No sane nurse would come to work high, but is it really a punishable offense if you used some a week before your shift? With current drug testing methods, the levels in your system can't definitively determine if you're high now, were supppper high yesterday, or a week ago (all clinical indicators set aside lol)

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

"I would love to hear from like-minded nurses, as I am not interested in engaging in a debate over this topic."

Hmmmm..........