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.
You won't lose your license by denying the test and quitting on the spot. You won't have a job, sure, but as we all know nursing is in high demand and it will be easy to find another job.
NEVER submit to a drug test. Quit on the spot BEFORE they are able to fire you.
You won't lose your license by denying the test and quitting on the spot. You won't have a job, sure, but as we all know nursing is in high demand and it will be easy to find another job.
NEVER submit to a drug test. Quit on the spot BEFORE they are able to fire you.
I think I'm concrete realiable data that proves it does destroy brain cells, or at least does some damage to short term memory. Before I got into the nursing business, I was a bartender and just looooved to smoke pot. I couldn't drink alcohol because it made me too sick. Anyway, during my pot smoking days, there are several things my husband tells me of things we use to do together which I do not remember. Well, since being pot free for the last 7-8 years, I have no problem whatsoever with memory.
I think I'm concrete realiable data that proves it does destroy brain cells, or at least does some damage to short term memory. Before I got into the nursing business, I was a bartender and just looooved to smoke pot. I couldn't drink alcohol because it made me too sick. Anyway, during my pot smoking days, there are several things my husband tells me of things we use to do together which I do not remember. Well, since being pot free for the last 7-8 years, I have no problem whatsoever with memory.
i definitely believe that heavy, chronic use of mj does destroy brain cells.
i'm talking about a nightly joint.:)
you know, comparable to a drinker's nightly cocktails.
Specializes in dialysis (mostly) some L&D, Rehab/LTC.
I repeat for all MJ smokers:
You won't lose your license by denying the test and quitting on the spot. You won't have a job, sure, but as we all know nursing is in high demand and it will be easy to find another job.
NEVER submit to a drug test. Quit on the spot BEFORE they are able to fire you.
You are then safe and your license is safe.
Ok, now, with the economy..I refuse to take a drug test and quit my job.. To me...that's just plain...NUTZ!...I don't smoke it so I don't have a problem with the drug test. I wish it were legal more that ETOH.. but the plain simple truth is.. IT'S NOT...so I AIN'T gonna lose my job over it..If one wants to smoke...have at it... but it's illegal...It will be for a long time cause the good ole boys want their liquor and you won't change that...It will be some time for the laws to change...I don't care if my friends smoke.. but I choose to not be in the same room and they know that so they respect my space and don't do it...
I think denying the drug test automatically gives a red flag , and quitting to protect yourself doesn't make the situation better for yourself. You apply somewhere else they call your previous employer which is not good . And then they would ask why you refused the drug test what would you say????
I think I'm concrete realiable data that proves it does destroy brain cells, or at least does some damage to short term memory. Before I got into the nursing business, I was a bartender and just looooved to smoke pot. I couldn't drink alcohol because it made me too sick. Anyway, during my pot smoking days, there are several things my husband tells me of things we use to do together which I do not remember. Well, since being pot free for the last 7-8 years, I have no problem whatsoever with memory.
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.
So here we are in the land of the free, being forced to do drug screens. What started to "justify" it? Were nurses coming in impaired or was it a conceived hysteria that took over? Why aren't the MD's who have privileges at the hospital drug screened too?
Seems to me that an impaired MD could do an equal amount of harm, if not more to a pt. This MD was chief of staff:
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...
I think denying the drug test automatically gives a red flag , and quitting to protect yourself doesn't make the situation better for yourself. You apply somewhere else they call your previous employer which is not good . And then they would ask why you refused the drug test what would you say????
...I don't smoke it so I don't have a problem with the drug test. I wish it were legal more that ETOH.. but the plain simple truth is.. IT'S NOT...so I AIN'T gonna lose my job over it..If one wants to smoke...have at it... but it's illegal...It will be for a long time cause the good ole boys want their liquor and you won't change that...It will be some time for the laws to change...I don't care if my friends smoke.. but I choose to not be in the same room and they know that so they respect my space and don't do it...
Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN
11,305 Posts
ah, it is becoming clearer . ....
What a great excuse to be able to smoke w/o repercussions to your license!
steph