Medical Marijuana

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi Everyone!

I got a question for you guys here... maybe someone might know the answer or at least know how it works in their state. If a RN has a disability that would allow them to have Medicinal Marijuana, would that in anyway effect the RN getting her license or having it renewed? When you do register for MM (medicincal marijuana) I'm sure your name goes into a database... Just wondering cause even though a state may have a law allowing the use of it, it is still illegal federally... Any thought?

Thanks!

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Nurses cannot work under the influence of anything, regardless of the chemical. I can have vicodin legally prescribed for me, but if I take it while on duty, or within 4 hours of my shift start, and something happens, I am considered impaired.

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Specializes in Perinatal, Education.

I agree with Tazzi. I take valium for muscle spasms occ and never take it while on duty.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

These types of questions can only be answered by your Board of Nursing.

Here in Florida it is as Tazzi states. Even with a doctors note you may not be impaired wihle working.

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LOL,

No, I know very well that you wouldnt be able to work under the influence, where Im getting at is.. Your prescription pills you have, though you may not take or do take them at work, they are legal... federally and state. Marijuana on the other hand is ILLEGAL federally, but some states are legalizing it for medicinal purposes such as MS, CANCER etc.... My question is if a RN or someone applying for a RN license and if there name is listed with their state as a Medicinal Marijuana user would that give the person any trouble... As that would definetly implicate the nurse trying to get the license as a person that is listed with their state and they use FEDERALLY illegal drugs (marijuana) I always thought federal law would trump state laws...

John

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Ask your BON

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Specializes in critical care.

My understanding of the MM situation is that there is no "official" database of MM users kept by the states where it is legal. When I worked in CA there was a marijuana "pharmacy" where patients who were prescribed the drug could pick it up. There was no database in the sense that there is some huge list that CA keeps of everyone getting weed; everything was between the pt and the MD. As far as getting an RN license, i don't see any reason why that would even need to be addressed since that is a HIPAA issue (there is no need for the BON to know that someone is using MM). The only place you would run into a problem is making it past a potential employer's pee test.

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I've thought about that too. CA is my home state & Medicinal MJ is legal ... yet would you still be rejected for employment based on MJ coming up on your drug screen even though you have a prescription??...hmmm

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