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?

The bottom line for Marijuana use by anyone whose profession dictates they be recreational drug free, Doctors, Firemen, Police , and yes Nurses will still not be able to claim their use is valid with an Rx. You will still be subject to the terms of your licenses and subject to discharge.

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Specializes in Research, HIV, Surgical, ER, Primary Care.
I wondered that myself. I am assuming it will be like any other drug ...if you have a current prescription you are in the clear.

I have wondered what will happen if they flat out legalize it. Will it still be illegal for nurses?

I would guess that it won't be handled any differently than alcohol. That isn't illegal for nurses. As long as nurses aren't working "impaired" I don't see the issue. There's such a stigma attached to it though, who knows.

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Specializes in PACU, OR.

The concept of having compulsory urine (or blood) tests, unless you were actually suspected of having been involved in illegal activities, is very alien to me. I can't even imagine how our local unions would react to any proposal that such practices be implemented, but I suspect that it would be regarded as unconstitutional in my country.

On the question of working "under the influence," whether of drugs or alcohol, our laws are understandably strict, as they are anywhere else; caught intoxicated on duty and you can be fired on the spot. Use of illegal recreational drugs while you are off-duty is your business, but should you be caught by the police with them in your possession, and be charged and convicted of possession, it becomes an issue for our Nursing Council-because your profession has been brought into disrepute. The same would apply to a nurse caught driving under the influence of alcohol.

As to whether marijuana should be legalized, take a look at the circumstances under which it was criminalized, and the specific population groups the laws were aimed at.

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Specializes in Leaning towards Trauma and Lifeflight.

A good bit of my recreation and home work takes place outdoors...so my neck does tend to get a bit of sun, I have become fairly conservative and tend to vote Repub.(though I was a radical hippie socialist in my youth) I don't want to work around anyone even slightly stoned, no matter what the "letter" of the law sez. If the second hand pot smoke levels you are exposed to might skew your test...you're hanging around with the WRONG kind of people. I have some friends who are cleared for Medical MJ, and grow it too(one is a fireman who doesn't use it but grows it for his mother) One hit solves the nausea related to her Chemo and allows her to keep calories up.She doesn't abuse it or get high, the same applies to the others in my circle of acquaintance.

Insomnia hint: Take an old chemistry book to bed..."The best excuse is still nothing but an excuse"

Hmmmn...now just what might I use this other .98 for???

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Specializes in ortho, urology, neurosurgery, plastics.
You're not really suggesting you can test positive from "second hand smoke," are you? LOLOL!

FYI. ingestion of poppy seed bagels/cakes the like DOES reult in a positve tox screen for opiates. And...yes second hand smoke from Cannabis will register on the tox screen. Happy Thanksgiving

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
FYI. ingestion of poppy seed bagels/cakes the like DOES reult in a positve tox screen for opiates. And...yes second hand smoke from Cannabis will register on the tox screen. Happy Thanksgiving

Yeah, if you're standing around people smoking bales of it maybe. I've already done the research.

You'd also have to eat quite a bit of poppy seeds to skew a drug screen. These are all tried and true claims people have used to try to beat the rap from a + drug screen. If you test + from poppy seeds, they can do a more refined test to determine that the source was from food.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Just like with nicotine, quantitative tests can determine if it was first-hand or second-hand exposure.

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Specializes in CNA.
I wondered that myself. I am assuming it will be like any other drug ...if you have a current prescription you are in the clear.

I have wondered what will happen if they flat out legalize it. Will it still be illegal for nurses?

Probably the same thing that happened when alcohol was legalized. You want to abuse the chronic, you do it on your own time.

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Specializes in Primary Care Nursing.
FYI. ingestion of poppy seed bagels/cakes the like DOES reult in a positve tox screen for opiates. And...yes second hand smoke from Cannabis will register on the tox screen.

Those poppy seed bagels must be providing quite the hallucination....

Keep dreamin'... if you think this excuse will pass with the authorities.

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On 11/16/2010 at 7:45 PM, OttawaRPN said:

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?

Vaping isn't Smoking, actually it is almost like a svn trx which is using a drug, albuterol for example, or a dose of epinephrine for rapid admin, for severe allergic exposure..... or asthma attack, though it is not fda approved, I am sure it is in the works. -especially with epi pens in short supply, that is considered a safe way of administration, not all inhaled/ smoked? Substances are harmful. Just a educated thought, don't be too judgy......

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On 11/16/2010 at 6:45 PM, ctmed said:

Well... the defense was used for a Canadian Winter Olympics athlete many years back...

If you were to inhale, fragrance such as essential oils, lavender for example, you can test positive for second hand smoke, just a science based observation......

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