Can a nurse be on a pot card?

Nurses Disabilities

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I'm a recently discharged vet and as the logic goes, I have ptsd. I do a good job of keeping it from bothering people, but I've picked up a coping mechanism that I'm too scared to ask anyone face to face about. I find marijuana useful, it helps me to escape some troubling thought processes and relate to peers better. I've considered applying for my card so that I won't have to worry about legal repercussions.

I'd never consider showing up to work on the stuff. But I haven't finished my degree yet and I just don't know where the rest of the profession stands on the issue. Can someone tell me how having a pot card will affect my nursing career? I'd rather know now and find an alternative way to cope than set myself back in a big way after all the work I've put in now.

Best wishes!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

That is great news!! My thoughts and best wishes go with you!

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i'm happy you're getting the help you need. thank you for your service to our country! good luck with everything and i wish you nothing but the best.

addressing ptsd and medical marijuana use, there is alot of research going on regarding vets using medical cannabis for treating ptsd but no real conclusions whether its helpful. personally i think no amount of medication (plant or pill) is going to fix the issue, therapy is necessary and the key to success. ptsd is not currently listed as a debilitating medical condition that warrants getting approved for medical marijuana because there really isn't enough evidence to suggest that it helps. however, marijuana can help with insomnia associated with ptsd....which may be helpful to you. i'd rather smoke a small amount of marijuana to help me sleep than become dependent on any sleeping pill and destroy my liver in the process(cannabis is not addictive)

perhaps this thread is now done, but i have to put in my 2 cents and say that i was pretty enraged by some of the comments here about marijuana, especially ones hinting that its medicinal uses are bunk. calling it a "pothead" card?! honestly?

what happened to not judging?? what happened to evidence based practice?!?!

modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications.[4] these include pain relief -- particularly of neuropathic pain (pain from nerve damage) -- nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders.[5] marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant, specifically for patients suffering from hiv, the aids wasting syndrome, or dementia.[6] emerging research suggests that marijuana's medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors[7] and are neuroprotective. - -norml

i see alot of people are here throwing stones at marijuana smokers, and throwing around alot of incorrect information about marijuana.

the legal status of cannabis is, in most states, less than what it should be (but don't get me started about that!). the fact is 13 states now have legal medical cannabis and more and more have bills in the senate fighting for the same rights.

maybe instead of judging people about marijuana use you could take a few minutes and actually read the facts...

www.norml.com is a wonderful website with alot of great information regarding marijuana and its myths.

i think you'd all be surprised at the number of regular/heavy marijuana users that you know, how productive we are, how motivated we are, and how informed and intelligent we are.

we don't take someone else's word for it. we do the research ourselves and form our own opinions. i urge you all to do the same before you buy into the stereotypical propaganda floating around out there.

"and god said, behold, i have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." - genesis

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i understand where you're coming from and i am on the search to find out for myself. honestly, the best way i've found is calling my school. i called annonomously and they were totally willing to work with me. good luck and i hope you find what you're looking for.

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Specializes in ER, Med/Surg, PCU, CCU, Home Care CM.

In California medical pot is legal with a script, but that does not mean an employer has to accept an employee that is on it. There is a test case there that a manager at an apt. building was fired for being on it. He had a script for it but was fired anyhow. Employers have the right to not hire anyone they deem unqualified in any way. As a nurse you will have drug testing before and randomly. Any medication that a nurse takes, that could possibly affect patient safety is reason enough to not hire or fire a nurse. Sorry, medical pot (as well as some other medications) legal or not is not acceptable for a nurse.

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Specializes in ER, Med/Surg, PCU, CCU, Home Care CM.

Sorry, I posted before reading your last response. Congratulations with your decision. It will be so worth it. Nursing is a great profession and you will do well because you care enough to ask when in doubt. Please post updates. We really do care.

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It was my understanding that although California legalized it, it was still against Federal law, subject to enforcement by the DEA.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
It was my understanding that although California legalized it, it was still against Federal law, subject to enforcement by the DEA.

Another big caveat. Even if something is legally prescribed does not mean that you can use it and legally work as a nurse. One can be legally prescribed narcotics and sedatives, yet you cannot work while using them in many places. In fact, there are states that specify that you cannot work under the influence of mood modifying drugs - technically outlawing nurses that use antidepressants. But since those are not typically tested for in a drug test, it sort of becomes a "Don't ask, Don't Tell" situation.

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Specializes in ER, Med/Surg, PCU, CCU, Home Care CM.
It was my understanding that although California legalized it, it was still against Federal law, subject to enforcement by the DEA.

It is against federal law....but, dosn't seem to be a problem as there are shops that sell it in every town/city and they advertise what kind they are selling. I'm not talking about just San Francisco and L.A., but every small town. The owners consider themselves legal business' and even belong to the Chamber of Commerece. DEA has stated it will not enforce federal law and will leave it up to the states. I have a hard time wrapping my head around this and still feel a shock when I see the shops.

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It is against federal law....but, dosn't seem to be a problem as there are shops that sell it in every town/city and they advertise what kind they are selling. I'm not talking about just San Francisco and L.A., but every small town. The owners consider themselves legal business' and even belong to the Chamber of Commerece. DEA has stated it will not enforce federal law and will leave it up to the states. I have a hard time wrapping my head around this and still feel a shock when I see the shops.

Until the next administration...lol

We are seeing how well that is working in Arizona with SB1070.

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Personally I don't see the problem with smoking pot while NOT on the job. I know in many places outside this country it is used medically. I know it works for some when nothing else has. I also do NOT believe pot is addictive except in rare cases, psychologically. Before anyone goes off on me let me state that no I do not smoke it. I did as a kid and have wanted to but too afraid of our all mighty government who thinks they have the right to tell me how to live my life. No I am not against country. I am against the government. I have severe chronic pain that round the clock morphine has not controlled. I do not want to go up any higher on the dosage due to the fact that it works for a little while and then stops. I have had many people not understand that there is a difference between dependent & addicted. I am tired of people thinking they have all the answers. I am not practicing anymore due to the fact that I have been on crutches for the last 15yrs in my home and in a wheel chair when I go out. I would never dream of working with the medicine I am on right now. It has been suggested to me many times to try pot for my pain. I have not done it but the thought is always there....what if it works? I can't risk my kids and home for it but I shouldn't have to make a choice between my family & pain control. I know many people who have been helped a lot with their pain, PTSD, ADHD.... People have closed minds and are not willing to think outside the box. Sometimes conventional treatment doesn't work. If a person does find something that helps them like pot, then who are you, the government or the police to take that away from them. I don't get it. No one said they were going to come into work stoned. No one said they were going to treat patients stoned. If they are doing something in their own home to improve their quality of life then I say butt out it's no one else's business.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
Sorry, I posted before reading your last response. Congratulations with your decision. It will be so worth it. Nursing is a great profession and you will do well because you care enough to ask when in doubt. Please post updates. We really do care.
Since you directed your response at the OP, it's worth noting that s/he hasn't been back to the site since October of 2009.
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