Concerned boyfriend - Question about Cannabis + Florida RN

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Hi All,

My girlfriend is an RN in Florida. We are planning to move in together soon, but she has a very warranted concern about my recreational cannabis use. I would never want to do anything that I think may jeopardize her career, but I would also prefer to continue my vice.

Here is some background:

  • She is a BSN, and intends to eventually persue higher nursing education
  • We would have a total of 5 adults living in the house
  • The substance would be kept in an extra bedroom, in a place she would never see it or know it existed. (I realize this sounds like I am hiding it from her. We have talked about this problem and I am open about everything I am doing, I just want to provide her with plausible deniability)
  • She would never be around the substance, in use or in storage

I have a few questions I am hoping someone can answer:

  • Has anyone had a similar experience to this, especially if law enforcement was involved at some point?
  • In Florida, once a nurse has obtained his/her license, what drug related offenses can cause it to be revoked or suspended? I found that a single drug related misdemeanor (even in the past 3 years) will still allow you to obtain your license without a BOH review, but I am wondering if this changes after the license is received?
  • If a nurse is involved with a legal infraction, at what point of the process can a nurse's license be suspended / revoked, in Florida? (Arrest, charge, or conviction?)
  • Can you think of any other useful information that you think could be related?

Please don't overload this thread with responses about me using illegal drugs. I am aware of, and prepared to face, the health and legal implications this can have on my life; however, I want to make sure both my girlfriend and I understand the risks I would be posing to her.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

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Are you serious? WHY in God's name would you put her in that position? There is no "plausible deniability" if the dope is in a house she resides in ITS HERS.

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I personally wouldn't take the chance! Even if it wouldn't strip her status it would still show up on future background checks and certainly effect future job offers and even financial aid eligibility. I would not risk all those sleepless nights of hardcore studying for my bf's bad habit!

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

Just being in the house can make her fail a drug test. By doing this you're putting her license in danger.

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BrihtneeY, thanks for the valuable reply. You bring up a good point about the background checks.

squatmunkie_RN, in legal terms, there is plausible deniability. According to how Florida's laws are set up, unless the illicit substance is found on her person, in order for her to be charged with possession the prosecutor must prove that she had knowledge of the substance, knew the substance was cannabis, and had dominion and control over the substance. If she wasn't a nurse, given the situation, she would not be able to be charged with anything. Which is why I am questioning what risk the presence of the drugs actually provides to her. If you have some experience or facts to back of the position of

if the dope is in a house she resides in ITS HERS
I would love to hear them.

Thanks

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Just being in the house can make her fail a drug test. By doing this you're putting her license in danger.

This is very close to false. Even if it was being smoked in the house and she was in the immediate vicinity of it, it is EXTREMELY unlikely she would fail a drug test. However, this is completely moot, because it is only consumed outside when she isn't present.

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Your GF doesn't deserve you if this is your thinking. I've seen and worked with people in detox/ rehab and its not pretty, if you want to smoke a blunt where the ramifications for your GF lead to unemployment, I hope you're willing to do the job hunting for her!!!

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

This is very close to false. Even if it was being smoked in the house and she was in the immediate vicinity of it, it is EXTREMELY unlikely she would fail a drug test. However, this is completely moot, because it is only consumed outside when she isn't present.

I'm sorry you think it's false but I've been in homes where one person smoked pot and the entire house reeked of it. You ARE putting her at risk via drug testing and having illegal drugs in the house.

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Specializes in ICU/PACU.

There's a section under the General Nursing called "Nurses/Recovery" that may be more helpful to you.

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Specializes in Med/Surg,Cardiac.

I doubt that anything would happen to her unless you got busted with it in your house. If she's not in the room I doubt a contact high would come of it and I truly doubt she would fail a drug test.

~ No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent -Eleanor Roosevelt ~

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She does know it's in the home. You just admitted that here. So your follow up comments to me don't make any sense. If something were to happen you think the court is going to believe that she didn't know it was in your home? Laughable. Just the accusation of illegal drug use at a hospital is enough to do damage to your career.

So....you're not going to get a bunch of nice advice here on how to keep your GF from getting in trouble due to your pot. Most everyone on this board knows how much hard work and sacrifice goes into getting a BSN. For someone else to jeopardize your career so they can get high seems very outrageous.

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I know the difference between "and" and "or" can be difficult for some people.

"knowledge of the substance, knew the substance was cannabis, and had dominion and control over the substance"

Because that is an "and", it means she would also need to have dominion or control over it. If she never came in contact with it, this qualification would never be satisfied, and therefore there would be no grounds to prosecute her.

I'm not looking for "nice" advice. I am looking for facts and experiences. According to the law, she would be doing nothing wrong. And given that fact, I want to know if according to the BOH she would be doing something wrong.

Please don't bother posting if you are just going to say something along the lines of "pot bad, hurt her, don't do it". I want to know why it is bad (for her) and have someone cite a regulation or some experience. I have seen numerous references about all the time nurses spent studying and working for their degrees and licenses, so please contribute to the actual conversation instead of repeating the same political and/or moral rhetoric that doesn't even address any of the questions asked.

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