I believe it is no employers business with what I do after work OFF duty. I have the right to smoke a joint if I want to. I'm a responsible adult MJ smoker and would never come into work stoned. Ever. I don't do any other drugs, drink alcohol, or smoke cigarettes. I do a great job, love my patients, always arrive to work on time, do what I'm supposed to do as a health professional.
Testing positive for a drug does not suggest impairment. I think we can all agree on that fact.
Tip for other MJ smokers:
From what I understand it is better to refuse to take a drug test knowing you will test positive than actually take the test; because your license could be revoked.
Drug testing is a clear violation of our 4th amendment rights.
Am I for drug tests? Absolutely. Pre-employment and poor job performance. Random? No way.
Specializes in dialysis (mostly) some L&D, Rehab/LTC.
I realize that your story and mine about our employee are anecdotal . . but then so are the ones from folks who say they smoke with no ill effects.
This poor kid has ruined his life - seriously. He had awesome talent in football in high school. Had a chance in college but got messed up with smoking pot.
As I mentioned, my husband coached him. He always knew exactly what to do, followed the coaches instructions, etc.
Now, at 23, he is not the same kid. His brain is seriously not functioning well. He smokes as soon as he gets up in the morning - showed up at work stoned. My husband is too nice and tried to work with him even when I said we should fire him. Logging is too dangerous. Then he got hurt a few weeks ago (this after rolling a skidder and doing other dangerous things at work).
This kid has NO future right now. Met my husband at the fueling station for his last paycheck and was red eyed and stoned . . .at 4 a.m.
It breaks my heart . . .but we were too lenient with him and I thank God he didn't kill himself or someone else.
I just wanted to add that this kid has lost his license but still drives. He treats his girlfriend terribly. I first noticed when he called his girlfriend "my old lady". I quickly corrected him. He did it again in a convenience store and the female clerk corrected him again.
He calls his girlfriend filthy names. He screams at her on the phone. Brags about their sex life. I haven't seen anything physical . . .yet. But if I do, I'll report him. When I see him driving, I'll call that in too.
I remember a short film I saw years ago- there was a musical number in it sung by a girl looking for a job. The song she sang was called "I Don't Do Windows and I Don't Pee in Cups."
I remember in one part of the song she emphatically sings "What I do on MY time is MY business."
(Not advocating anything here, just sharing a memory of a song).
Now, at 23, he is not the same kid. His brain is seriously not functioning well. He smokes as soon as he gets up in the morning - showed up at work stoned. My husband is too nice and tried to work with him even when I said we should fire him. Logging is too dangerous. Then he got hurt a few weeks ago (this after rolling a skidder and doing other dangerous things at work).
steph
This is what I did when I smoked. First thing in the morning I grabbed my pipe. I could quit at any time and wouldn't have withdrawals, but when I had it, I wanted to smoke it at all hours, no matter what.
I just wanted to add that this kid has lost his license but still drives. He treats his girlfriend terribly. I first noticed when he called his girlfriend "my old lady". I quickly corrected him. He did it again in a convenience store and the female clerk corrected him again.
He calls his girlfriend filthy names. He screams at her on the phone. Brags about their sex life. I haven't seen anything physical . . .yet. But if I do, I'll report him. When I see him driving, I'll call that in too.
Spidey'smom--that kid probably had an addictive trait. Would you be stating his story had it been ETOH he was using? I know pot is illegal, but assume for a min. it is legal....then you would have NO complaints with MJ if it was not illegal? It could have been ETOH, Ativan, pain pills instead of pot--some people are just made to be addicted to something. At least you can't OD on pot...
Actually, if we are going to drug test, it ought to be everyone. I've advocated for a long time that if you drug test kids in school, then the coaches and teachers need to step up, be supportive and get tested!
As to this kid - I would be upset regardless of what he did that made him kill his potential.
This is just an example of pot.
There are many people who mess up on lots of different substances but since this thread is about pot, I thought I'd stick to that.
Specializes in dialysis (mostly) some L&D, Rehab/LTC.
and all of his behaviors are r/t mj??
leslie
Could be he's also a tweeker...doesn't sound all about MJ! but I don't know the dude...You have legit points...I wouldnt want him around my job..sounds like a kid that needs some help but won't get it til it's too late..
I just wanted to add that this kid has lost his license but still drives. He treats his girlfriend terribly. I first noticed when he called his girlfriend "my old lady". I quickly corrected him. He did it again in a convenience store and the female clerk corrected him again.
He calls his girlfriend filthy names. He screams at her on the phone. Brags about their sex life. I haven't seen anything physical . . .yet. But if I do, I'll report him. When I see him driving, I'll call that in too.
steph
steph, i dont think you can attribute all this behavior to smoking weed. it sonds like he has an attitude/anger mgmt problem.
the worst problem i had when i smoked pot was i always wanted to hug people and eat doritos. never made me angry, impulsive, tearful, etc.
i know you are an ER nurse, i am a medic. i deal with the druggies before you get them. and i can honestly say that i dont think i have ever picked up anyone who got violent while smoking weed, who overdosed on weed, or who crashed a car while smoking weed. etoh, cocaine, pcp, meth, ecstasy, heroin, oxycontin... yes. weed, no. they might have fallen asleep on a public bench or something and we would go to check on them, but most of them they would smile and say "thanks, dudeeeee"
most of the time, the pot heads were the one who had the calm in them to call 911 when their buddy had etoh poisoning and was aspirating vomit.
i could care less if someone smokes weed as long as they do it on their own time.
Well, knowing this kid before his mj excursion . . . . a nice polite and smart kid and knowing the family of his then girlfriend, who say he treated her quite well . . . and then seeing his downward spiral . .. .(leaving college, losing his license for driving under the influence, getting hurt on the job due to carelessness, knowing for sure that he showed up stoned, seeing him treat his girlfriend badly) . . . . I'm making an assumption that he is messing up his life because he stays stoned 24/7.
Just a guess though. Obviously, I can't know for sure.
steph
(Those of you who pray, might put him on your prayer list btw. He needs it).
soulofme
317 Posts
Hey if Brittney Spears can do it...any 1 can:eek: