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Discussion

MMJ Card

Hello, I’m about to start college this fall and my major is nursing. I plan to apply for a MMJ card relatively soon for my migraines. I live in Illinois where it is legal for recreational and medical use. I understand that the BON does not allow nurses to use marijuana, and employers are required to report a failed drug test to the board. I also understand that this still applies regardless of having a medical card, since it is illegal federally. I have a couple questions that I’m hoping someone on here can answer. 

If you tell your employer prior to being hired during the interview process that you have your medical card, will they report you? I know that not all places are the same but does anyone have any experience with this? 

I know a lot of places drug test on hire so I will definitely detox for the initial drug test.

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    • Experts

    Whatever answer you get to your question will be that person's answer.  No one here can speak for  all employers in Illinois or any other state.  For all we know, Illinois hospitals have similar policies.

    Detoxing for the initial drug test may get you in the door.  While you're working, if there is a narc discrepancy on your shift  or anywhere near where you worked, you may be subject to a spot drug test.  And then get reported.

    If you're planning to use marijuana and pursue nursing, you need to get your questions answered much more definitively than from random  strangers on the internet.  It might be  worth finding some other remedy for your migraines.  It would be a bummer to put in that kind of time and energy into developing a career then constantly have to look over your shoulder.

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    Proceed with caution. First, I would never tell a potential employer that you have a MMJ card. Period. Second, Tricia is right in that your employer might do randoms, or as a result of an incident or med discrepancy. IME, more places seem to be doing away with randoms, and I actually can't remember the last time I received a pre-employment drug test (4 jobs ago, maybe?). But it's still risky. As long as you're okay with the risk of being fired, I guess go for it? Personally, I would find a non-MJ alternative for dealing with migraines. Regular MJ use is just not really conducive to being a nurse in the US, at least a hospital nurse (my ex-husband, who has always worked hospice, has never had a pre-employment drug test in his career).

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    • Experts

    The other thing I thought of is this:  If you know the BON doesn't allow MJ use, you join a profession that is dependent on BON licensure, then all along you're carrying a license under false pretenses.   It's a less than honest way to enter a profession and has spectacular backfire potential.

    Check out the Nurses in Recovery section of this forum.  Many are very candid about what they've been through and they do provide a wealth of first hand information.

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    • Author

    Thank you all for your responses! I appreciate all the help ?

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    Then there's the matter of nursing school itself. The programs I am familiar with require drug testing, likely as a requirement of being able to place students in to clinical sites. I'm sure there are students who detox prior to known upcoming drug testing and then go back to using mj. That sounds very stressful (just my opinion).

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    Do you have a diagnosis by a doctor?  I ask because I've had 3 in my life but totally self-diagnosed.  And have you tried other things?  If you haven't you probable need to, before going to marijuana.

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    • Experts

    You’ve received some great advice so far.

    To my (limited) knowledge, I’ve never heard of a healthcare facility that allows marijuana use for employees even if it is medically approved and legal in the state. As others have said, you’ll always been running a risk. I’d caution that it’s not only a risk of losing your job, but also could have a huge impact on your nursing license that you worked so hard for.

    Though I am not a user myself, I hope in the future they will allow healthcare employees to use marijuana per state laws (both recreationally and medically) as long as they aren’t under the influence during their shift, much like alcohol.  

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    • Author

    In case anyone was wondering, I think I found a loophole. LOL. 
     

    Correct me if I’m wrong but if you become an NP, and get a certain amount of hours worked under a physician (in Illinois it’s 4000 hours), you gain complete autonomy. Which means you can open your own practice, be your own boss, and make your own rules. And you wouldn’t have to worry about a drug test.

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    1 hour ago, futurenurse2025 said:

    In case anyone was wondering, I think I found a loophole. LOL. 
     

    Correct me if I’m wrong but if you become an NP, and get a certain amount of hours worked under a physician (in Illinois it’s 4000 hours), you gain complete autonomy. Which means you can open your own practice, be your own boss, and make your own rules. And you wouldn’t have to worry about a drug test.

    So what are you going to do about the 4 years of nursing school, 2+/- to get a Master's and then about 2 working under a doctor?  

    I ask again, have you tried other meds for your migraines?

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    1 hour ago, futurenurse2025 said:

    In case anyone was wondering, I think I found a loophole. LOL. 
     

    Correct me if I’m wrong but if you become an NP, and get a certain amount of hours worked under a physician (in Illinois it’s 4000 hours), you gain complete autonomy. Which means you can open your own practice, be your own boss, and make your own rules. And you wouldn’t have to worry about a drug test.

    You still need to get your RN first, which involves clinicals, as well as going on for your NP. Many NP programs now are a DNP. It would be very hard to have an independent practice with zero RN experience or any clinical experience.  You still would need to be drug tested.

    There are no loop holes, you still need a drug test to get into your clinicals. 

    I think a major difficulty with MMJ is there is yet to be a threshold for under the influence. 

    Not trying to rain on your parade, but currently there is no exception and no other way.  To go to RN school you will need to find an alternative.

     

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    • Experts

    Yes to what the previous two posters said. I also think if you’re already trying to find loopholes to work the system and you haven’t even started school, you should really think hard about spending all this money on a nursing license which could be completely ruined if you’re planning to do this and get caught - there goes your livelihood, then what?


    Again I’m very pro-marijuana use, both medical and recreationally even though I don’t partake in it myself, but as of right now it’s just not something that can realistically and legally exist with your nursing license unfortunately without a major risk attached to it and that likely isn’t going to change in the next 5 years, if not longer. Sure there are many nurses out there who use it and haven’t gotten caught, but also a quick browse on the AN Recovery forum will show you the other side of how your world, livelihood, ability to pay bills and take care of yourself/family could suddenly change on that small chance that you did get caught. Something to think about when weighing that risk.

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    I really truly understand chronic pain as I have dealt with it since childhood. I have even had doctors suggest medical marijuana to me due to the severity of it. However, I won’t risk my license and am careful of absolutely everything I put in my body. I am not anti-medical marijuana. I just know I have no desire to get into the legal ramifications of it with an RN license. There are so many options out there for chronic pain and illness, including migraines. Have you looked into both conventional and alternative therapies that won’t risk an RN license? 

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