Being a nurse in Ohio with a medical marijuana card? HELP!!

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Hello world! I recently graduated from nursing school and I cannot really find a straight answer on how the Ohio board reacts to nurses obtaining a medical marijuana card. I have PTSD and another health condition that qualifies me to obtain my medical card, but I'm still confused on if the board is okay with it and if they could revoke or deny my license once I pass my NCLEX. I know it depends on circumstances aswell, but I don't want to jeopardize my license by asking them. Any life experiences or information or links would be sososo helpful.

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I don't personally have any idea. You may get more responses if you ask this in the Nurses Recovery group. I'm not implying you have an addiction issue, but those nurses have a lot of experience with the BON & substance rules. 

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Marijuana is fully legal in Ohio but until State BONs stop following federal laws one has to be careful.

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An internet search using "how the Ohio board reacts to nurses obtaining a medical marijuana card" returned several sources you might find helpful; although none, at least on the results I viewed were from the OH BON. 

One source specifically listed the following...

Quote
  1. the nurse is not impaired while on the job,
  2. they follow their employer's drug policy,
  3. they do not work for the federal government, and
  4. they do not violate DUI or other drug criminal laws.

... which seemed to be common.

Best wishes.

Quick Reference Guide: How to Obtain Medical Marijuana

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chare said:

An internet search using "how the Ohio board reacts to nurses obtaining a medical marijuana card" returned several sources you might find helpful; although none, at least on the results I viewed were from the OH BON. 

One source specifically listed the following...

... which seemed to be common.

Best wishes.

Quick Reference Guide: How to Obtain Medical Marijuana

Thank you 🙂 

kp2016 said:

I don't personally have any idea. You may get more responses if you ask this in the Nurses Recovery group. I'm not implying you have an addiction issue, but those nurses have a lot of experience with the BON & substance rules. 

Yeah you're right, I made another post there, thank you!

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Specializes in Mental health, Critical Care, Nurse Educator du.

Have you exhausted all other options in terms of medication? There are so many different ways of treating PTSD that don't involve THC. 

It would certainly raise a red flag with the board if you're saying you have a mental illness that you need Marijuana to treat.  Your competency in general might be questioned.  

I also don't think Marijuana is approved by the FDA to treat PTSD. 

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If you seem impaired in any way and they drug test you even if it's medical marijuana they will say you have a SUD and you'll be reported.  In NY they don't test for THC. 

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Quickstepper said:

Have you exhausted all other options in terms of medication? There are so many different ways of treating PTSD that don't involve THC. 

It would certainly raise a red flag with the board if you're saying you have a mental illness that you need Marijuana to treat.  Your competency in general might be questioned.  

I also don't think Marijuana is approved by the FDA to treat PTSD. 

I haven't exhausted all other options because I can't get proper health insurance yet, or I would be properly medicated. I go through the states free insurance and figured marijuana would be cheap and as helpful as the expensive meds and therapists. I've seen it help so many people with many different issues. Clinical studies have showed it actually helps veterans significantly as far as PTSD goes when their medications completely fail them, so I figured it would definitely help me since I most likely don't have it as severe as a veteran. Free state issued insurance can really only give me so many options as far as medications and therapy go, and I have tried many of those medications that are covered by my insurance for many years in different doses and many therapists. The board is aware of my mental health concerns, and I did a good bit of research it is an approved condition. If it is too much of a risk I won't go through with it because it isn't worth putting my license and career at risk. I probably just need to wait until I can get better insurance and can afford decent care. I did want to try something different that could potentially replace all of my other medications.

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Specializes in Primary Care, Military.

The same way I would advise strongly against a CDL Truck Driver against doing so, even if it is technically legal in their state, I would advise any license-holding medical professional against this. The BONs go by federal law, which currently holds THC as illegal and class 1 controlled substance. We don't have any real studies showing how long one is impaired after use, especially given how long you test positive for (longer with regular use). For reference, the DOT when certifying those with CDLs states that current THC use is the only substance that is an automatic disqualification. I imagine the BONs have a similar attitude and, given how ugly the alternative to discipline programs can be (expensive), I wouldn't test them.

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HarleyvQuinn said:

The same way I would advise strongly against a CDL Truck Driver against doing so, even if it is technically legal in their state, I would advise any license-holding medical professional against this. The BONs go by federal law, which currently holds THC as illegal and class 1 controlled substance. We don't have any real studies showing how long one is impaired after use, especially given how long you test positive for (longer with regular use). For reference, the DOT when certifying those with CDLs states that current THC use is the only substance that is an automatic disqualification. I imagine the BONs have a similar attitude and, given how ugly the alternative to discipline programs can be (expensive), I wouldn't test them.

Thank you! Putting it in those terms makes a lot of sense I appreciate your response and I most likely won't go about doing it 🙂 

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Specializes in CWS Certified Wound Specialist.

I have researched this extensively with my brother who is an RN also and we both live in ohio. He has MS and he recently got his recommendation as well. 

 

 However, it is up to each individual employer whether they decide to prosecute or report to the board of nursing. The Board of Nursing then would take it on a case-by-case basis.

However, if there is an accident or a mistake or any type of injury whatsoever like a simple Med error even, they could find thc in your system and decide that that is a risk , with no determination of whether it affected your performanceday of (due to long half life). Also this opens you up to malpractice suits. I mean think about it.

Do you want your surgeon to be positive for thc? 

 

It's a huge bummer, but for me, not worth the risk.

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Specializes in Occupational Health.

As others have said, check with the BON for their position. Also check with your employer or potential employer regarding their policy. Most employers have a zero-tolerance policy in place for safety-sensitive positions such as nursing as they are not willing to accept additional liability and risk of patient harm secondary to the possibility of care provision while under the influence of a drug that is considered illegal at the Federal Level regardless of being prescribed by a physician under State law. 

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