CBD in California? Will my nursing license be safe?

[phoenixrn]

Greetings!

It's 2017. I'm the primary caregiver for my mother, who is showing s/s of advancing memory loss. She frequently has back pain also, and the two issues are keeping her out of the garden, which has been her true passion. I'm a practicing RN. She lives with me.

Research studies are corroborating what countless anecdotal studies have been suggesting: CBD (marijuana cannabinoids with the THC removed) are helpful in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Vascular Dementia.

So I'm considering trying to get my mom on some CBD. I'm clean..... would pass any drug test. But I do get concerned if it was found in my household or on my person. I feel safe from legal action, but I worry about the CA BON.

Any thoughts, advice, or individual experiences? Thank you.

[Boomer MS, RN]

Recreational marijuana is now legal in CA. I voted against recreational use last fall but voted for medical use several years ago. Whether it could help your mom, I don't know. If there's a chance it could help, I would think it's well worth a try. Speak with her PCP about for his/her medical advice. The CA BON frowns on being "under the influence", as you must know, and you can get in a heap of trouble if you're seen as "under the influence" at work. I do not see how your license would be at risk if only your mother uses the drug. Who would be searching your home where MJ could be found? It's legal in CA.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

While recreational MJ is legal in California, it is NOT legal under Federal law. The trend in the past (under the Obama Admin) is basically to not worry about going after users that acquire a small amount for personal, "medical" use and generally not bother stores that sell MJ for those purposes. Your mother (or someone other than YOU) needs to be the one to acquire THC-free CBD. If you are the one acquiring it, then you are the one putting yourself at risk because of your acquisition of a MJ-related product that's not for your own use (in effect you're a non-licensed dealer). You shouldn't physically handle the stuff at all and money shouldn't flow through your hands (or your bank account) to acquire this stuff.

The reason I suggest this very strict policy is very simple: you need to protect your license. You don't want any appearance of being a drug dealer nor do you want any amount of THC to find its way into your body. CBD oils appear to have some very excellent properties but as far as I know, you have no way to know if all the THC has been removed from the final product. If you inadvertently handle a CBD oil that has some THC in it and it gets into your system, you'll test positive. MJ testing looks specifically for THC. You'll never test positive if there's no way it ever can get into your body.

While I don't think you'll have any actual issues with either California or Federal Law Enforcement agencies with regard to having CBD oils, I do worry about whether or not the BON will have an issue with you acquiring a MJ product, even if it's THC-free and not for your use, if you are caught buying, transporting, or otherwise handling the stuff. The BON deals with your license on an administrative level, not a criminal one, so they get to follow different rules. My advice is to not risk the license until there's clear guidance that allows for exactly what you're asking.