Nurses with Medical Marijuana Cards.

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A new topic for you all to consider; is it legal in your facility for nurses to have medical marijuana cards and of course that use them. Anyone have experience with a nurse testing positive and not fired?

Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
MunoRN said:

But it doesn't really matter either way, employers can test for and terminate employees for using drugs legally.

Yep, the legalities or lack thereof are totally irrelevant when it comes to what individual facilities will allow.

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Other new topics ready for our consideration:

Are LPNs being phased out?

Are tattoos unprofessional?

Do nurses eat their young?

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
BrandonLPN said:
Other new topics ready for our consideration:

Are LPNs being phased out?

Are tattoos unprofessional?

Do nurses eat their young?

You forgot DNP being required NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

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mhy12784 said:
Im 100% guessing on this

But id be willing to bet money that the majority of hospitals dont fire nurses for using nicotine products.

Im sure they exists (from reading about it on here) but im near certain its a small minority

A small but growing minority. Give it a little more time.

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"I love my cat" - terminated for napping in your car on your own break? What? If you ask me, a power nap could do wonders for making a safer, less sleepy nurse.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

employers may practice the search and seizure of employee urine at any time they please and may punish the employee for any perceived violation of the employers rules. the employees have no rights in this matter. they may not refuse. it doesn't matter what the laws are surrounding any substance they test for. the employers are entitled because they have a financial risk involved which supersedes any individual rights of the employee.

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If you live in a state that allows medical marijuana, possession of the drug is legal, according to state law. It is illegal as far as federal law is concerned. That is why you will be terminated, lose your license, etc.

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MunoRN said:
I'm not necessarily promoting their argument, but the argument is that there is actually evidence that people taking certain prescribed medication, mainly opiates and benzos, are measurably impaired compared to someone who is not (they are more likely to have workplace accidents or errors).

While the adverse effects of these medications do decrease somewhat compared to therapeutic effects with chronic use, we know that they don't disappear. So it would go against our basic understanding of pharmacology to suggest that someone taking these medications doesn't experience some level of impairing effects.

I have been diagnosed with PTSD due to combat in Iraq. I take two different meds to keep me what I call "happy". I have been taking these meds for a few years now and am dealing with patient direct care everyday. I also have a medical maijuana card but do not use it due to my position as a nurse. Are you stating I am impaired to do my job because I take these meds? thats ludicrous! I also know medical staff who do use marijuana recreationally and do their jobs better than other staff who are as far as I know using no meds in question. I am not stating there are no one who are effected by taking meds, but if you are making a general statement you couldnt be more incorrect.

My original post was regarding MEDICAL marijuana card holders. Not recreational users. And I find it interesting that anyone who uses marijuana is all categorized into one giant crockpot (pun intended) category.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
klone said:
The US Attorney General has already come out and said that they are not going to prosecute anyone for possession or consumption in the states that voted for recreational use (CO and WA). So in those states, it's more "a-legal" federally. We are the guinea pigs, and the feds are watching in earnest to see how it plays out. It will just be a matter of time before it will be legal federally.

Hospitals are federally mandated to be drug free. Even though the USAG isn't going to get involved, it doesn't mean that your BON is not going to get involved.

Regarding the ramifications of smoking legally in another state or country, and testing positive after return would probably depend on how your nurse practice act is written. At some point there will probably be a test case of someone getting suspended or revoked.

Employers however, can to make any rules they'd like.

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fltopp1 said:
I have been diagnosed with PTSD due to combat in Iraq. I take two different meds to keep me what I call "happy". I have been taking these meds for a few years now and am dealing with patient direct care everyday. I also have a medical maijuana card but do not use it due to my position as a nurse. Are you stating I am impaired to do my job because I take these meds? thats ludicrous! I also know medical staff who do use marijuana recreationally and do their jobs better than other staff who are as far as I know using no meds in question. I am not stating there are no one who are effected by taking meds, but if you are making a general statement you couldnt be more incorrect.

My original post was regarding MEDICAL marijuana card holders. Not recreational users. And I find it interesting that anyone who uses marijuana is all categorized into one giant crockpot (pun intended) category.

This discussion has now progressed past your original question.

Whatever your "happy" meds are.. they may very well be impairing your ability.

Review the NIH guidelines on impairment caused by chronic use of "happy " meds.

I appreciate your service that led to the use of the "happy" meds. However, a chronic user of "happy" meds may not be thinking clearly enough to evaluate themselves while using the "happy" meds.

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I have received nothing but letters of recommendation and praise as a nurse which I also did my studies and passed the NCLEX on these meds a few years ago. If my abilities are impaired, then it was for the better.

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Specializes in Critical Care/Vascular Access.

Let me start by making it clear that I do not smoke pot (so no one thinks I'm just trying to justify my own behavior), but seriously, you're just flat out naive if you think that people who smoke it recreationally are any less capable (generally speaking) than people who don't. You would also probably be incredibly surprised to find out how many people you know and trust do actually smoke it recreationally.....doctors, lawyers, nurses, etc. Not the majority, but a much higher number than is probably reported or realized by the general public.

If you're okay with people drinking in their own time, how can you possibly object to pot?

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