If the government legalizes marijuana in the US...

Published

When the US government legalizes weed at the federal level will nurses be allowed to smoke weed?

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I think so as well, and I am hopeful that all facilities follow that kind of standard. It's the fairest and most constitutional option for sure.

Look at it this way Cigarettes are legal but hospitals are now including tests for nicotine in urine during pre-emplyment physicals and use it's presence as grounds to not hire.

Alcohol is legal but you shouldn't imbibe prior to going to work.

I suspect MJ will fall somewhere between the two. It may become legal but employers in "At will" states can decide they don't want employee's who use it.

Like Klone - I never got the big deal about smoking pot I did it in college a million years ago but not since I became an adult.

Hppy

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow, this forum escalated quickly.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Even if (or when, depending on your viewpoint) pot is legalized at the federal level, I'm guessing it will take a while for Boards of Nursing and employers to follow suit. They have very little incentive to allow its use and plenty of reasons to prohibit it.

That said, if (and/or when) it is legalized, BON restrictions will be made by state, so I'd imagine that the more progressive states (i.e. the states that decriminalized use early on) will be more lenient much more quickly. For instance, if/when marijuana is decriminalized at the federal level, I'm guessing that the BONs in California, Colorado, Oregon, etc. will allow it's use far faster than the BONs in Texas, Alabama, Montana, etc.

It's a moot point until marijuana use is decriminalized at the federal level since no Board of Nursing is going to endorse a controversial activity that's illegal under federal law. Given our current political climate (and especially the new make-up of the Supreme Court), I kind of doubt that initiative is going anywhere for quite some time. I honestly think that the most reliable route to legalization would have been a Supreme Court ruling, but with the Kavanaugh appointment, that ship has likely sailed. Meanwhile, the left-leaning members of Congress have so many bigger issues to deal with that it seems unlikely marijuana legalization be a priority in the near future. With all of the focus on immigration/detention, the economy, global relations, gun violence, etc., I kind of doubt that marijuana legalization is a hill that most Congresspeople are willing to die on at the moment. Maybe things will change in 2020 if we were to have a democratic house, senate, and president, but even then it could be a stretch.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case Manager/Administrator.

The thought of being under the influence of any substance while working is scary to me. Decisions that will effect life are being made on a daily basis. I do not even take Benadryl while working. It is difficult enough working day to day much less for me taking something that could cloud my decisions. I will wait until I retire and my licenses are not maintained then I may try pot for arthritis/pain.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think right now there is a little too much research that contradicts other research saying that pot is physically and mentally safe for various purposes. One study infers that smokers tend to suffer more from affective disorders such as bipolar disorder. Then there is another study suggesting that working memory and decision-making is mildly impaired in weed smokers as well. I also think the insurance industry would have to be regulated from above to provide some benefits that could be related to use, or, the research needs to be fleshed out significantly, which I think will take awhile.

http://adai.uw.edu/pubs/pdf/2017mjbipolar.pdf

COMORBID MOOD, PSYCHOSIS, AND MARIJUANA ABUSE DISORDERS: A THEORECTICAL REVIEW

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have used medical marijuana for chronic pain and I feel far less under the influence when using it vs taking benadryl! But if marijuana were to be legalized nobody should work under the influence just like one wouldn't drink alcohol before a shift.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree. This issue has an obvious political charge. I would hope that we could talk about other issues surrounding the target issue in this forum, but this only works if we can avoid personal attacks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You assume a lot.

I don't deny that there are a lot of untapped medical benefits to marijuana. But let's not be disingenuous here. You're a dude who wants to toke. We see posts like this here about once a month. And yeah, I don't get it.

all the people who want to smoke it like a train always tout its 100000s of not real benefits to get others to agree with them

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Smoking weed is not all that. Why are people so obsessed with it?

Don't you know, weed cures everything because it's "natural". Ha!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER - trauma/cardiac/burns. IV start spec.

There are some that are allergic to weed as well. I know several people allergic to the smoke from weed and most of them are also allergic to latex. It is a cross that I am trying to find research on but there is not much out there for me to review.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Even if BONs decide to make pot use a non-issue, that doesn't mean facilities won't continue to test for it and pass on people who test positive. We've seen the same thing happen with nicotine. It's perfectly legal, BONs don't give a flip, and yet a number of facilities are not hiring smokers.

I wouldn't mind giving it a try for my aches and pains, but at present, I'm not going to risk it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PACU, OR.

As to the dangers of addiction, it's probably less addictive than nicotine. People taking risks to partake? Just remember Prohibition.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in HHC, Rehabilitation.

Some considerations before for the opposition:

How many of you have administered hydrocodone to likely drug seeking addicts or have a family member abusing them? How many have died from the abuse of pain and anxiety meds?

Medical case management education sources are stating this may be an alternative to opiates--creams, edibles, and non-psychogenic CBD oil do not stink and do not require smoking, and there are infused beverages.

A potential alternative Ambien, benzo's for insomnia.

A teenager son with autism on legal anti-psychotics r/t behavioral issues (anger and violence) along with dystonia, and hand tremors? Yes, my son.

On Cannabis he is sweet, compliant, not hitting caregiver nor me, no mood swings and no horrible side effects! And thin and not overeating.

Now in a nonlegal state son is in 20s and is back on old antipsychotic., Zyprexa and has had his 2 grand mal seizures (new and first 2 of his life); behavior is now stable but he is so hungry for sweet and craves junk, gained gut weight quickly, and will not exercise as before. We have to lock the pantry.

Research and testimonials from veterans and people with arthritis that shows it likely has some benefits, w/o high feeling. Dr Sanjay Gupta did a great series on CNN.

People are in prison (one man for life) for hauling marijuana and had no history of violent crime. Take the power away from the cartels by medically legalizing cannabis.

Oklahoma, a conservative state, just legalized it for medical use without stipulations.

Like you I never liked it and tried it as a teen and hated it. It is not a miracle but it is worthy of legalization and is in many states.

I also own Constellation Brands and Tilray stock--and I hope my stock goes up too in time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion