marijuana and nursing.

Nurses General Nursing

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I was just wondering, in states where pot is legal, does that mean health care workers don't get drug tested? Are health care workers allowed to test positive for pot? Thanks for the information.

Even if marijuana were legalized at the federal level, an employer can opt either to not extend an offer or terminate a current employee for use. Blondy2061h provided an excellent excellent example. Nicotine is currently legal, however a growing number of employers are opting to became nicotine free.

This is true, however if a facility allows employees to take prescription benzos or opiates it may find itself in a legal bind (if marijuana legal federally) if they fire an employee for prescription use of marijuana.

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Even if pot is legalized on the federal level, I forsee many hospitals still terminating you (or rescinding offers) for a positive test. It will be treated just like nicotine.

Marijuana has been proven to have medicinal purposes/benefits and is used in the treatment of many diseases. Nicotine by contrast has never to my knowledge been deemed medicinal and placing them both in same category just does not work.

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Specializes in PACU.
This is true, however if a facility allows employees to take prescription benzos or opiates it may find itself in a legal bind (if marijuana legal federally) if they fire an employee for prescription use of marijuana.

Yes, but how can they prove the employee is not coming to work high?

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Yes, but how can they prove the employee is not coming to work high?

How can they prove the same with benzos and opiates? Some medicinal marijuana strains do not even have psychoactive effects.

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Specializes in Pedi.
I was just wondering, in states where pot is legal, does that mean health care workers don't get drug tested?

No. Marijuana's legal status aside, drug screens test for a lot more than just marijuana. Just because marijuana is legal doesn't mean that nurses can do cocaine or PCP thinking they won't get drug tested.

Are health care workers allowed to test positive for pot? Thanks for the information.

No. Again, regardless of marijuana's legal status, testing positive while on the job could be considered working while under the influence, which is a no no regardless of if the substance is legal or not. As others have pointed out, alcohol is legal for all those over 21 and if you are found to have alcohol in your system while on the job, you will face termination and being reported to the BoN.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I'm in California. For both facilities I work at, an employee testing positive for THC will more likely than not be terminated.

And do not think that a medical MJ card will save you: Marijuana is still Schedule I so no doctor in this country can legally prescribe it. They can only recommend its use.. Also, just because a MD recommends marijuana use for someone doesn't mean employers have to accept their employees using it.

Hope this helps.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I was just wondering, in states where pot is legal, does that mean health care workers don't get drug tested? Are health care workers allowed to test positive for pot? Thanks for the information.

Not at any facility I'm aware of here in Colorado.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Although marijuana may be legal in some states it is still illegal on the federal level. Until that is changed I think that employers may have problems with an employee testing positive even with a prescription.

I think that even when it IS made legal on the federal level, it will still be considered fireable for many/most facilities. At least until they can do a test that quantifies when usage occurred.

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It would depend on company policy, but how is it any different from coming in under the influence of anything? ETOH is legal, too, but that doesn't mean you can hit the bottle before your shift!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Pa. going backward on marijuana -- PA nurses vocally opposing this legislation.

[h=2]Medical Cannabis Opposition[/h][h=3]Senate Bill 3 Medical Marijuana[/h] [h=5]PSNA Opposes SB 3 as amended[/h]

On April 21st, 2015 Senate Bill 5 Medical Marijuana was amended in the Senate State Government committee. This amendment now included in Senate Bill 3 does not meet with PSNAs standard of being tightly controlled, strictly monitored and medically prescribed. Therefore, PSNA will not be supporting Senate Bill 3 as amended.

Pennsylvania's medical cannabis legislation originally focused on patient-centered care,” states PSNA Chief Executive Officer Betsy M. Snook, MEd, RN, BSN. Not only did it provide patients with safe access to therapeutic cannabis for symptom management of intractable medical conditions, but it also protected both patients and health care providers from criminal prosecution, civil liabilities and/or professional sanctioning. Finally, it provided for the establishment of efficient drug delivery, growing and dispensing systems, including registered nurses as dispensers.”

Senate Bill 3 PN 793 no longer contains the provisions that initiated PSNA to support the previous version of the bill. PSNA and the American Nurses Association (ANA) have supported patients' rights to legally and safely utilize medical marijuana for symptom management of intractable diseases and their sequelae and will continue to advocate doing so.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

CA BON cases:all surrender of license

nurse using/growing marijuana: http://www.rn.ca.gov/public/rn729739.pdf

using marijuana as treatment for the side effects of the interferon (Avonex)"

http://www.rn.ca.gov/public/rn281995.pdf

NCSBN: MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND NURSING PRACTICE IN WASHINGTON STATE

Employers may establish drug-free work policies and are not required to make accommodation for medical use of cannabis

https://www.ncsbn.org/2014DCM_LKaplan.pdf

AJN: Marijuana Legalization and Potential Workplace Pitfalls for Nurses Who Partake

July 30, 2014

Julianna Paradisi, RN, OCN

...My husband, a pharmacist, remarked, It may be legal, but testing positive at work could get either of us fired or invite state board investigation.”

For my husband and me, as Oregon residents, the point is moot: no amount of THC in our urine or blood is legal. For Washington and Colorado residents, however, the newly legalized status of marijuana creates confusion for employers and employees alike. In Washington and Colorado, a drug test positive for THC is no longer illegal, but being under the influence of legal substances like alcohol, for instance, violates employer policies....

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Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.
Although marijuana may be legal in some states it is still illegal on the federal level. Until that is changed I think that employers may have problems with an employee testing positive even with a prescription.

I have checked with both NM BON and MO BON and this is their response, even tho medicinal MJ is legal in NM.

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