Can an RN work at a legal pot farm?

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Specializes in ER.

I have a friend who is, essentially, a retired RN. She has an opportunity for a part time job at a legal marijuana growing operation. She was asking me today if I thought that was a conflict with being an RN. I don't think it is. She's a totally sober person, a perfect candidate to work at a pot farm. I would guess that straight arrows such as my friend would make ideal employees; she wouldn't be at risk to sample any of the crop!

I was even thinking it would be fun to do that one day a week myself. I've always wanted to work at a nursery! Wouldn't that be a nice change from the stress of taking care of the needy and sick? It pays $15 an hour, she says.

What do you think? Is it allowed?

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I think she is going to have to ask the BON

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

If she's not smoking, I don't see why it would be a conflict. Heck, if she's retired, I don't see why it would matter at all.

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I think this falls under, "If you have to ask, blah blah blah."

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

Hmm.....I'm essentially a retired RN too, and I'm having trouble finding a job outside nursing. Never thought about working at a pot farm. May have to consider it. ;)

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Specializes in EDUCATION;HOMECARE;MATERNAL-CHILD; PSYCH.

If the POT FARM is licensed and has appropriate State permits, why not? Even if she is using the POT, it is okay as long as she has prescriptions.

Anyway, each State BON is different. So she needs to ask her State's BON.

This is a new practice sites for Nurses. Very lucrative!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I would say that until Pot is Federally re-scheduled and no longer is actually and legally a Schedule I drug, I'd be very wary about working on a Pot farm, even if the farm is licensed, permitted, and the like through the state government. As we all know, marijuana has it's own set of issues, but once the Federal Drug Schedule thing is resolved, I don't think there'll be any real issue with anyone working at a regulated grow operation, much in the same way that people work for companies that produce alcohol for consumption.

Until that happens, I just have to urge caution. While you wouldn't (likely) get any state charges, who knows how each RN board would view a Federal charge related to the production and distribution of a Schedule I drug...

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Soooo can NPs prescribe weed in legal states?

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Specializes in EDUCATION;HOMECARE;MATERNAL-CHILD; PSYCH.
Soooo can NPs prescribe weed in legal states?

It depends on the State BON.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Soooo can NPs prescribe weed in legal states?

In only a handful of states. Washington is one.

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Specializes in retired LTC.
Hmm.....I'm essentially a retired RN too, and I'm having trouble finding a job outside nursing. Never thought about working at a pot farm. May have to consider it. ;)
You know, we all talk about diversity in career opportunities in nsg. This could be a new one -pharmaceutical pot horticulture & cultivation.

Sounds impressive to me!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Actually, in states where pot is legal and/or more prevalent/less stigmatized, there is a growing career field - not cultivation, because it doesn't require any specialized knowledge/training. But with the medical pot industry comes a need for healthcare consultants.

I have a friend whose father is a real estate lawyer. He has specialized in marijuana real estate - he has become an expert on laws, zoning, etc for pot businesses.

It's a huge, growing industry.

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