How does BON handle + marijuana screens from nurses in states that have legalized it?

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I see that Arizona has just voted in to legalize medical marijuana if you have a recommendation from an MD. How does the BON in the states that have legalized medical marijuana react if you test positive but have an RX from an MD for it? Anyone had any experience with their BON or know their policies?

Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
Medical marijuana is legal in Canada, sold in capsule form as Cesamet (Nabilone) - a synthetic type which contains the THC w/o the other harmful chemicals of naturally grown cannabis. It is far less addictive and provides sustained relief, usually BID dosing, whereas organic MJ gives you the euphoria almost immediately providing only short periods of relief so you'd have to smoke joint after joint to get long lasting effects.

Are there even any FDA-approved medications that are smoked? Smoking seems like a poor way to deliver medicine, the harmful chemicals and carcinogens that are byproducts of smoking create entirely new health problems. Given that a safer and lung friendly version is available, why would anyone want to harm their lungs?

If you do your research on MJ, true, organic MJ does not have the same level of harmful effects as cigarettes. You cannot compare the two.

Cigarettes are not an organic product...they are heavily enhanced.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the idea that the same people who want to toss law-abiding illegal immigrants in the clink are also a bunch of stoners :smokin:

This message will self-destruct in 10. . . .9. . . .8. . .

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Specializes in PCU, Stepdown ICU, Home Health Case Management, ED.
i'm still trying to wrap my mind around the idea that the same people who want to toss law-abiding illegal immigrants in the clink are also a bunch of stoners :smokin:

this message will self-destruct in 10. . . .9. . . .8. . .

:lol2:

sorry, this statement made me laugh. although law-abiding illegal immigrants says it all. they are not law-abiding by very definition, but that's another thread altogether. funny non-the-less tho...

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I'm actually surprised it passed in Arizona. I thought AZ was a red neck, Republican, conservative state.

It is. I lived there for 7 years. I'm quite surprised, too.

The county you described...yavapai, by chance?

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Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.

I live in a state where it is not legal. WHat are your feelings about legalizing marijuana for medical use? I know states like CO it is legal. I have had a patient that had legal marijuana brownies for the medical reason of "I can't sleep sometimes". I have NOOOOOOO sympathy for him!!! He has no idea how little sleep I get since I became a nurse 20 years ago! Grrrrr!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

There's a big thread about this further down on this page.

How does BON handle + marijuana screens from nurses in states that have legalized it? - Nursing for Nurses

You have no sympathy for your patient who has insomnia? That's too bad.

I think marijuana should be legalized for everyone.

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Specializes in Med./Surg., Diabetes, Med. ICU, home hea.

I live in California. Being a Libertarian, I believe it should be legalized. Being a Libertarian, I believe it is an employer's right to do random drug testing and fire anyone who tests positive, even if their physician recommends it.

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Specializes in criminal.

If you're so concerned about your lack of sleep ( due to being a nurse for 20 years) vs the insomnia of your patient, well, suggest you quit nursing!!!!!!!!!!! They did not choose their disorder. There are numerous ways to re leave this and that is their choice and right.:)

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

Medical Marijuana threads merged for continuity

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Specializes in PACU, ED.
You are right--this would never cover a nurse that is impaired at work. But it looks like it would prevent the BON from sanctioning nurses who test positive for marijuana on a random drug screen.

I agree that it would prevent the BON from sanctioning nurses who have a legal right to use marijuana, the same as with percocet, vicodin, oxycontin, etc. A random screen would probably never reach the BON. A nurse would have the opportunity to declare items they are prescribed which might show on the screen. If you have a RX for narcotic and test positive for that substance that is not considered a positive on the drug screen so there would be no reason for an employer to forward the results to the BON.

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Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.
If you're so concerned about your lack of sleep ( due to being a nurse for 20 years) vs the insomnia of your patient, well, suggest you quit nursing!!!!!!!!!!! They did not choose their disorder. There are numerous ways to re leave this and that is their choice and right.:)

Nope, not concerned about my lack of sleep, I've learned that you suck it up! Nurses are tired, that's just how it is, working a zillion different shifts and crazy hours, that's how it is. I'm not gonna sit around and smoke weed or eat marijuana brownies.

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Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.
If you do your research on MJ, true, organic MJ does not have the same level of harmful effects as cigarettes. You cannot compare the two.

Cigarettes are not an organic product...they are heavily enhanced.

Where in my post did I compare marijuana with cigarettes?

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