Any news about pot legalization and BONs?

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With more states legalizing it either as medicine or for any reason, I'm curious what BONs plan to do about the issue. What if you get a pot arrest in one state, then move to a state where pot is legal? What are employers doing in pot legal states if they drug test people that smoke pot? Since it's legal, will they be fired? Reported to BON? If you're reported to the BON for testing postive for pot in a state where pot is legal, will the BON take action against your license? Anyone have any insight? I don't smoke pot, and I can say for certainty that I wouldn't want a high nurse at my bedside. I also see a lot of pot smokers claim that it does not impair them at all, and I also do not agree- as evidenced by the large increase of people getting arrested for DUI based on having pot in their system. A few states are also considering the presence of metabolites in your system grounds for a DUI arrest, so you may live in a state where pot is legal, cross states line, then be arrested for DUI in a state where pot is illegal, even if it has been weeks since you smoked pot. I'm just curious about how all these issues are being addressed. It seems there is a mad rush to push through pot legalization all over, and it must be dealth with in some way by employers, BONs, etc.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

AND the person who's been drinking isn't impaired. Those claims don't hold weight with me......I think this legislation is so new...it is going to take a while to catch up with the litigation.

If you are arrested for pot in a state it's because you broke the law...moving to a state that has it legalized does nothing except you won't get arrested again...it won't negate your charges for you still did something illegal.

Hospitals already don't hire nurses for medications they take especially pain meds by saying they are not "fit for duty" and can't perform the required physical requirements....essentially circumventing the ADA requirement.

Ihave said many times...while this legislation is SO NEW....I would avoid marijuana until it catches up with itself....unless you truly need it medicinally.

This will be something to watch how it develops.

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You can still get in trouble with Boards. I drank and am legal to do so, I still got in trouble for alcohol abuse (and mental illness). Just because it is legal does not mean you can use and abuse a substance as a nurse. If you want to smoke pot in a legal state, do not be a nurse.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Alcohol use is legal, but will still get you fired.

Evidence of use of any mind altering drug, legal or not, can still get your licensed pulled.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I live in CA, which is the most pot-friendly state...hell, 4/20 is practically a statewide holiday.

Even if you hold a medical marijuana card--which BTW is not a prescription for pot--the BRN and BVNPT will not smile upon THC use. Just as they frown upon excessive ETOH use or prescription pain pill abuse, all of which are legal substances (in the case of pills, provided a script is present).

While not doubting that some people have a very legitimate reason to use THC, nearly anyone can get a medical MJ card in CA as long as they can find both $40 and a MD willing to play along at home. The MD can not "prescribe" the pot as MJ is still a Schedule I substance, they just recommend its use. So the BRN/BVNPT doesn't buy into the "it's prescribed!" argument.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

" I don't smoke pot, and I can say for certainty that I wouldn't want a high nurse at my bedside" None of us would want a nurse at the bedside under the influence of anything, I imagine-not etoh,pot of pills...I happen to believe that a nurse can have a few glasses of wine or cocktails or a few bong hits in the evening and be just fine the next day.Time will tell if the corporations agree.

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Depends upon which corporations you mean- the private sector profitting from legal weed, or the state corporations laying in wait to arrest you? Where I am, medical weed is legal (even though in fact it's a federal crime). And while the state legalized it, they are now crafting a law that if you are pulled over, and have trace metabolites of pot in your system (blood draws are escalting across the states), you can be arrested for DUI, whether impaired or not. All the while, they are gaining tax revenue from the (legal) pot shops. Also where I am, trace alcohol on a breathalyzer, if you have minors in your vehicle, is a felony DUI- meaning even less than one glass of wine. When I go to places and see parents drinking, I 'scream' in my mind to ask them if they know the risk they are taking- but really, most likely those people belong to the majority of American hypocrites that voted for all these laws. Asie from that, is there not a person in this forum with a nursing license, and a legal medicinal marijuana card, that has had to deal with the insane and conflicting laws regarding use, possession, blood draws, BON consequences while having a legal use card, or etc>? Maybe it's just to soon? Thanks.

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