Do you think patients should have the right to use medical marijuana?

outlierrn · Feb 19, 2006

well, if you took opiates and benzos away I'm not sure I would stay in the business, so I'd be a hypocrit to oppose it. Besides, I have NEVER, EVER seen anybody in the ER because of marijuana.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2006

well, if you took opiates and benzos away I'm not sure I would stay in the business, so I'd be a hypocrit to oppose it. Besides, I have NEVER, EVER seen anybody in the ER because of marijuana.

I do all the time. These kids nowadays smoke it and then come in with panic attacks. Because they feel funny. But of course Urine Tox always come back with multiple positives.

KungFuFtr · Feb 25, 2006

Here's an interesting video regarding the subject:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4226613341497072803&q=penn+and+teller

zackmema · Mar 5, 2006

I think medical marijuana should be given to the people that need it the most. I agree that it should be legal and taxed like alcohol and cigarettes. If it was legal, we would have less backloads in the court system so that the courts could deal with real criminals.

00nurse · Mar 5, 2006

I am Canadian and patients do use medical marijuana. This is not common in hospital; for one thing, smoking is not permitted (assessment for a nicotine patch is offered to all patients on admission). I have only seen it perscribed once, and it was in pill form and considered an controlled drug which is counted every shift. This may be more common in palliative units. I don't see the difference between oral marijuana and any other narcotics we would distribute. I assume that the medical effects if taken orally are delayed but the same. I have seen a couple of patients who were using the inhaled form and brought it from home. We took the "hands off" approach and they went outside to smoke it. We don't become involved because possession for more than personal use is still a criminal act and it is unclear if or how we are protected should it go missing. Too, there are eithical issues when promoting behaviour that can cause harm to not only the patient but other patients and staff in the form of second hand smoke.

onconurseRT · Mar 30, 2006

I do all the time. These kids nowadays smoke it and then come in with panic attacks. Because they feel funny. But of course Urine Tox always come back with multiple positives.

Yeah.. most of the kids that are using these days are getting their "porducts" laced with all kinds of chemicals and other drugs. In fact, there are hundreds of street names of various "pot mixed with something else". That something else being anywhere from embalming fluid, automobile gasoline, to many dangerous cleaning chemicals as well as other "drugs" in their various forms.

Very scary for those unknowing kids!

smk1, LPN · Mar 30, 2006

As a brand new nursing student i obviously don't know much yet, however it seems strange to me that some don't want marijuana used at all even for medicinal purposes. what is wrong with regulating it, putting it in a scheduled category and and dispensing it as needed with the same restrictions as say level 2 or 3 meds because of the addictive properties? Other extremely addictive/mood altering drugs are prescribed, so why not marijuana? I am embarrassed to say that i don't understand the "debate" yet. So what am I missing?

Fallen Angel · May 18, 2006

yes

KellNY, RN · May 19, 2006

Yes. I think mj should be decriminalized for everyone. But at the very least should be available medicinally to those who need it.

teeituptom--Have you seen anyone in the ER for MARIJUANA? Or only mj that was laced or contaminated? There's a diff.

irmaRN · May 19, 2006

if someone has little time left on this earth, then absolultely!! in fact, anything they want!

swatch007 · May 23, 2006

Why not? If beloved Bush admitted experimenting with it long time ago why can't we use it now for medical purposes. Science requires open mindedness. The stigma attached to using marijuana is more on people who use it for recreational purposes.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · May 25, 2006

Only if they share with the staff

good for morale