medical marijuana past and wanting to be a nurse

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2013

Are you talking about getting a medicinal marijuana card? If so, that is confidential and will not come up on your background check.

lakersfan92 · Dec 15, 2013

no I used to have one

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2013

If it is no longer active and you test clean from the drugs, then it should be okay. Just don't lie about having one in the past if there is a question on applying to the board's nursing application. Normally you can find a list of questions on the boards' site that they will ask you. Usually it involves crimes and convictions.

My state has clarified the drug question. This is what they ask:

Are you currently engaged in the illegal use of chemical substances or controlled substances?

For this question “Currently” does not mean on the day of, or even weeks or months preceding the completion of this application. Rather, it means recently enough so that the use of drugs may have an ongoing impact on one’s functioning as a certificate holder or licensee, or within the past two years. “Illegal use of chemical substances or controlled substance” means the use of chemical substances or controlled substances obtained illegally (e.g. heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine) as well as the use of controlled substances, which are not obtained pursuant to a valid prescription, or not taken in accordance with the direction of a licensed healthcare practitioner.

So it sounds like you would circle no as it was under the direction of a licensed healthcare practitioner. However, I'd keep the card invalid.

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2013

As you mentioned, it is not an "illegal substance" as you received an actual medical card to use the marijuana. I would, however, NOT smoke the marijuana a week to SEVERAL weeks before the drug test.

lakersfan92 · Dec 15, 2013

thanks and yea im not gonna re-new it

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Dec 15, 2013

I'm a little concerned when you said "i plan on not smoking anymore after new years".

No, make that a LOT concerned.

lakersfan92 · Dec 15, 2013

why ive stopped before cold turkey its not hard

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Dec 16, 2013

If you're still using you haven't stopped.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 16, 2013

I'm a little concerned when you said "i plan on not smoking anymore after new years".
No, make that a LOT concerned.

I second this. Bottom line: it is ILLEGAL (in most states). If you want to be a nurse, you need to quit now. Not later, not after New Years, now. Do you think the law cares if you used to have a card? No. You are smoking it without a card now, which makes it illegal. Either choose to do it the legal way or don't do it at all.

Beautiful Mind RN · Dec 16, 2013

Just to add on to what others have to say, there are some facilities out there that also take hair samples (along with urine tests) and drugs like marijuana can stay in the hair follicles for years.

I would heed the advice of the previous posters and start quitting today, especially if you are serious about applying for nursing school and having a career in the field.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Dec 16, 2013

why ive stopped before cold turkey its not hard

Because it's illegal, because it can affect your Dream of becoming a nurse. Because you say you no longer have a card...so now you'll have a criminal charge and really throw your chances away. If you no longer think it's cool then just quit.

Look I'm all for making it legal, taxing it, putting the drug cartels out of business, and regulating it.

However right now....it's illegaland will ruin your chances of becoming a nurse.

The choice, of course, is yours and so will be the consequences of your actions.