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.
If a CHP officier pulled over someone smoking pot, they can be arrested even if they have an RX for it. It called driving under the influence and you can be arrested for it just as you can be arrested for driving while taking Ativan. An rx does not give you a blank slate to do what you want when you want with a medication. Every CHP officier knows this and he should be held responsible if he chose not to arrest an impaired driver.
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My point in that story is that the law in California was simply passed to allow people to smoke pot for no other reason than to get high.
These boys were around 19 years old. They didn't have a legit excuse to have an RX for pot.
You keep pulling the "illegal" card but I can safely say that most people constantly break the law, including you. How often do people jaywalk, speed (even if it's 1 km over the speed limit), drink underage, commit traffic violations, download movies/music without paying, litter, don't wear a seat belt, use fireworks, don't report extra income, blah blah blah, I could go on and on.
Please don't act like a martyr; your self-righteous attitude in this thread is getting kind of tiresome.
I apologize if I'm sounding self-righteous. I certainly don't put myself on any kind of moralistic pedestal.
I don't however agree with equating using a mind-altering substance illegally to downloading music and jaywalking or even speeding.
As you said, no one is perfect.
I just don't think it is a good idea to come on allnurses and advocate for a professional nurse to use an illegal drug.
In this one aspect, I think it is not a good idea to risk your license over getting high.
Smoking marijuana as a nurse. Yes it happens and yes it will continue to happen. That's just a fact. We can debate this all day long. As far as I am concerned that is the individuals bussiness and choice. It has no place on the job. I think the most dangerous drugs on planet erath are cigarettes and alchol. That is just my view and my experience. I do not do any of the above myself. There is just one small tiny detail that should be considered though. Regardless of how you come down on this issue MJ is illegal if caught you can go to jail, pay fines, lose your license and only God knows what else. So I guess it comes down to this, is the risk worth it to you??
As I said, I do not partake of marijuana. I just find it kind of rediculous that people are so horrified of it, when ETOH is so much more dangerous, and causes so many more societal ills. (I'm not talking legal vs illegal).
I know your looking for a validation sorry but I will not stoop to a that level and say its ok to smoke weed . And I was referring to ALCOHOLICS not the casual drinker there is a huge difference and I am suprised you can not grasp the idea they are different. Weed is a addictive drug ok so please don't justify it and comparing it to a glass of wine at night which is legal , and a joint is illegal. Do whatever you want but drugs are drugs . And in reference to my brother he thought he had everything under control when one day it blew up in his face and they hauled him to prison ,so no you don't having everything under control when you smoke weed. Your just in denial becuase you can admit to yourself that I use drugs to cope with life and they make me feel "good". Get a hobby if you need a release drugs dont't solve problems they cause problems!
My point in that story is that the law in California was simply passed to allow people to smoke pot for no other reason than to get high.
These boys were around 19 years old. They didn't have a legit excuse to have an RX for pot.
That was my point.
steph
You didn't think they had a legit reason to use it, but you don't know they didn't. Did you exam them or look at their X-rays? It could be that they didn't have a legit reason, but you can't just assume that in passing.
You didn't think they had a legit reason to use it, but you don't know they didn't. Did you exam them or look at their X-rays? It could be that they didn't have a legit reason, but you can't just assume that in passing.
Actually I do know because of the court case my nephew referenced. It was proven in court.
As I said, I do not partake of marijuana. I just find it kind of rediculous that people are so horrified of it, when ETOH is so much more dangerous, and causes so many more societal ills. (I'm not talking legal vs illegal).
I think the majority of us ARE talking the "legal vs. illegal" . . . . and risking losing your license and what it says about a person who disobeys a law to get high.
I really haven't seen any hysteria (referencing another poster again).
There is just one small tiny detail that should be considered though. Regardless of how you come down on this issue MJ is illegal if caught you can go to jail, pay fines, lose your license and only God knows what else. So I guess it comes down to this, is the risk worth it to you??
Specializes in dialysis (mostly) some L&D, Rehab/LTC.
My point in that story is that the law in California was simply passed to allow people to smoke pot for no other reason than to get high.
These boys were around 19 years old. They didn't have a legit excuse to have an RX for pot.
That was my point.
steph
I don't believe that...I think it should be legal for many pts with pain, ca... a 19 YO can have back pain...now the problem is...the Drs. who go along with the handing out of the script just for the $$ in their pockets.. there lies alot of the problems... In my time it was speed.. (black beauties).. kids got it for "weight" problems...but were very skinny...different times... still the same problems... now what was the name of that Dr?
The thing about drug testing is that it doesn't necessarily indicate that the nurse is high at that time. So it isn't automatically going to protect pts from intoxicated staff. It's yet another cover-everyone-to-prevent-a-few situation, like certain vaccines or pasteurizing things. Granted, for those who get the disease or a bad batch of raw milk, it's a world of suck. But for the vast majority there's no problem.
I tend to lean on the "don't show up stoned and it's no one's business" side, but only for dope. On harder stuff I tend to have a less elastic view.
I don't know, I may be bitter that the fetus has prevented me from both the hot tub and blazing up a fatty. :wink2:
Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN
11,305 Posts
My point in that story is that the law in California was simply passed to allow people to smoke pot for no other reason than to get high.
These boys were around 19 years old. They didn't have a legit excuse to have an RX for pot.
That was my point.
steph