i have a medical marijuana card - can i still be a nurse?

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i live in california and have a medical marijuana card. i'm signed up to start my prereqs but thought i would ask here first.

i DO NOT smoke. i have the card for other reasons. is this going to hurt me? doesn't the background just cover arrests?

thanks!

You will fit right in out in Cali! Housekeeping ensures fresh spliffs are lit in each nurse break room every hour on the hour out there.

ROFL as a housekeeper i can confirm this is true :D. Ever wonder why housekeeping never returns your call around 4:20 pm.

Having a mm card shouldn't hurt you at all (imo), i mean its like carrying a prescription for vicodin or soma. This is just my opinion though.

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"Oh, good. I thought it would be a difficult solution.

So, get rid of it."

:yeah:

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

The BON is your best source. They may prevent people from being licensed who may be taking any form of mind-altering medication, including prescription RX. This would include narcotics, anti-depressants, etc. I don't think that prescribed/non-prescribed is as important as the drug itself and its potential to put you in a position to do harm, intentionally or not.

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they do a drug test for preemployment. if you do need to smoke - smoke. but just don't smoke for several weeks before the drug test.

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I was actually talking about this with a friend the other day.....

It seems iffy to me that the BON would be able to deny a license because someone has a medicinal marijuana license. I don't see how they would even know you have one in the first place. Isn't that part of your private medical history? I'm not saying medicinal marijuana users should be able to be under the influence while at work, for obvious safety reasons, but if someone has a legitimate prescription, and its legal in that state, how can the BON take any action against you for it?

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My dear, clearly you did not read the literature that came with the card which says it expires in one year from date of issue. So, you probably do not have the prescription anymore. I agree with the last note you received, as it is a prescription and HIPAA is in tact, you are saved. As tobacco becomes more illegal, marijuana will become legal, because people need something to smoke. Always have, always will. Lastly, when Rhode Island became legal for MM cards, a NURSE WAS THE FIRST IN LINE TO GET HER CARD.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-144172562.html

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
]i would be more concerned that the back injury[/b] would come back and make it difficult for you to work than the med mj card.

EXACTLY.... If your back pain is so bad that you need mj, why would you look for a career in nursing?

I don't mean to be rude, I'm merely asking a question.

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.
i see reading comprehension isn't your strong suit. i said i DO NOT smoke. i have the card and do not smoke...get it? i do not condone any drug use at work.

it was a joke me thinks

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OK everyone. This is a big debate as I have read over all the comments on this and other posts. I recently got my card for back problems and heel spur pain and would rather try this option than vicodin and percocet and valium. Yes, I feel that you should not smoke or eat any marijuana prior to work but at home should not be an issue. Ever. I'd rather eat a brownie than vicodin and valium. Less side effects and non-addictive. Overdoses result in a nice long sleep, not death. I forsee marijuana becoming legal everywhere in the next 5 years. Then we will see what happens.

At work, I agree that just as narcotics aren't suppsed to be taken there, neither can marijuana. The big problem is that it stays in your system for up to 30 days on a drug test, and if one is taking this medicine for pain or other chronic problems, you will need to take the medicine more than every 30 days. SO, there needs to be more precise laws as far as the use for nurses go. I have not seen any documentation yet that says that nurses can not use mmj. :nurse:

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Wouldn't it seem that if one needs mm for pain/health reasons that these reasons would be so severe that said person would be considered disabled?

I am guessing if you can work, you don't need the card.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

Ive always wondered about this too as Im from california. I wondered too if the medical mj license is in a data base and if it can be accessed by the BRN. Does anyone have any real data on this?

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

The problem is, just because a drug is legal, does not mean that nurses are permitted to use it and hold a license.

There are states that bar working nurses from using mood modifying substances (Florida, I believe is one). Thus technically, you cannot use antidepressants, antibipolar drugs, etc...drugs that are perfectly legal.

Thus, this question should be addressed to the BON and the school, as they are the final arbiter.

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