Nurses smoking weed?

SLM.RN.BSN.ADON · Apr 25, 2016

Personally, I really think this is a extremely tacky and unprofessional question. But since you asked, I will share my thoughts.

Smoking marijuana is not federally legal, therefore even in states that have made it legal, you are choosing to perform an illegal activity even in those states.

At my organization, I've rolled out an internal Occupational Health Service. We do hair testing for our drug testing. The #1 drug that people are testing positive for is marijuana. We are not interested in anyone that uses drugs, and yes, that includes prescription meds you can't verify you have been prescribed!

sherri64 · Apr 25, 2016

I do believe it should be available strictly by prescription for those with health problems that it truly helps. Cocaine is an anesthetic and is used frequently. I had it for a surgery. But I was on a heart monitor and they needed to use it to numb me through the nose to intubate me because of a deviated trachea and a huge thyroid tumor. Terminally ill people, people with severe seizure disorders, glaucoma, and cancer, along with some other illnesses can benefit from it and are not usually working or driving. We have had marinol for years and that is a form of pot. I don't think it should be smoked but put in another form safer for people who need it. Cigarettes can kill; we all know that. Alcohol, however, is very dangerous when someone is driving or working and causes many deaths and injuries. The addiction destroys families and more. But prohibition didn't work. There will always be some people who just want what they want. I haven't smoked in 40+ years and am glad of it. I've never used any kind of drugs for recreation. And I might have a margarita 2 or 3 times a year with a dinner for an event. But that's it. But I do believe in medical marijuana. And for those states with the death penalty having trouble getting the drugs to carry it out, why not use a lethal dose of heroin? Seems easy to get and we have an epidemic of overdoses and deaths from it in Ohio. Especially mixed with fentanyl.

chopwood carrywater · Apr 25, 2016

Personally, I really think this is a extremely tacky and unprofessional question. But since you asked, I will share my thoughts.
Smoking marijuana is not federally legal, therefore even in states that have made it legal, you are choosing to perform an illegal activity even in those states.
At my organization, I've rolled out an internal Occupational Health Service. We do hair testing for our drug testing. The #1 drug that people are testing positive for is marijuana. We are not interested in anyone that uses drugs, and yes, that includes prescription meds you can't verify you have been prescribed!

I understand your actions re your employees, although I feel it is invasive unless there is actual cause. That being said, since you are against it based on its illegality, what would you do if any of your patients were found to be using medical marijuana? If you are not in a state that has legalized it, assume that you are for the sake of discussion.

Thanks.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Apr 25, 2016

Go to your PCP and ask for a marinol Rx for your intractable nausea. Drug test problem solved. Example: RN, HIV+ partner, PrEP make them extremely nauseous and difficult to keep meds down. Takes a hit before taking med each night, problem solved. Drug test positive for THC, show Rx for marinol...pass. Few companies want to spend hundreds on additional confirmatory testing that may, or may not, be able to tell the difference between the two. Plus if they can't break it down to being different, they open themselves to lawsuits for discrimination based on diagnosed medical condition.

Unless you have really good insurance that would be a pretty expensive solution. My Dad was prescribed marinol during chemo. Thank goodness he had great insurance that covered it 100% because the price tag from the pharmacy for a 30 day supply was jut a touch under $1000.00, I want to say $968 but that number could be wrong. I just know it was crazy expensive.

wolf9653 · Apr 25, 2016

I've had to do the hair testing on all new employees of a certain company. BTW shaving your head doesn't help. it can be done with underarm hair, leg, chest hair, arm hair, hair from 'down there', however we can get it. For people that lost all their hair from medical conditions or medical treatments probably wouldn't be fit for duty anyway, since it was a very physical job. One fell came back dirty said he loaned his baseball cap to his brother the day before, lol. The test covers a month or so back..

Personally, I really think this is a extremely tacky and unprofessional question. But since you asked, I will share my thoughts.
Smoking marijuana is not federally legal, therefore even in states that have made it legal, you are choosing to perform an illegal activity even in those states.
At my organization, I've rolled out an internal Occupational Health Service. We do hair testing for our drug testing. The #1 drug that people are testing positive for is marijuana. We are not interested in anyone that uses drugs, and yes, that includes prescription meds you can't verify you have been prescribed!

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2016

I've had to do the hair testing on all new employees of a certain company. BTW shaving your head doesn't help. it can be done with underarm hair, leg, chest hair, arm hair, hair from 'down there', however we can get it. For people that lost all their hair from medical conditions or medical treatments probably wouldn't be fit for duty anyway, since it was a very physical job. One fell came back dirty said he loaned his baseball cap to his brother the day before, lol. The test covers a month or so back..

Scalp hair follicle tests can go back 90+ days. Body hair can go back even more months than scalp hair.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2016

No. But as dream'n said, I personally think it's safer than alcohol. My body doesn't work well with alcohol either. The way I relax is playing with my rabbit after a long day at work.

What? Your "rabbit"?

Farawyn · Apr 25, 2016

What? Your "rabbit"?

:blink:

CHESSIE · Apr 26, 2016

In my state, MA, THC is legal for medical use, by prescription, and it is considered to be a controlled subject. For this use, I agree, however, recreational use is another matter. I do not believe that we need any more substances to obtund, dull or impair our senses. We have enough issues with ETOH.

nursidosis · Apr 26, 2016

in case you were to try. THC stays in your system for up to 30 days. The chemical attaches to your fat cells then is metabolized. just FYI

xtinamtnz · Apr 26, 2016

I think in the coming decades our perspectives of marijuana will change. I honestly look forward to the day where it becomes federally legal. They're also decreasing it's drug classification. I work in oncology and nausea is of course the number one side effect most patients suffer from chemo - to make it worse I work pediatric oncology, not only is it taboo to use weed it's taboo to give it to a child! However, I have heard of situations where patients were given a marijuana like pill that is legal in the US to combat nausea. Of course it costs thousands of dollars for a one month supply, if marijuana becomes legal it will help so many patients and be more cost effective. I'm not opposed to marijuana use, however my license is too important to risk it.

I do see legalization on the horizon some day and that will be awesome for our patients suffering from chronic pain, nausea, and weight loss. Once it becomes legal I think it will become therapeutic for a majority of health professionals too. A lot of health professionals suffer from chronic back pain, anxiety and stress. If I was a patient and not a nurse, I'd choose marijuana over norco, Xanax, or oxy to treat pain or anxiety any day.

Regardless, this is an interesting topic of discussion! It's nice to hear nurses discuss it.

MassED, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2016

I think marijuana is a crutch. I hate to think I am being cared for in the hospital by persons who need a crutch. Marijuana is not only illegal in most states it is psychologically additive. A well adjusted person does not need a mind lifting drug. I am against the use of marijuana in all cases especially by persons who are supposed to be mirroring good health practices to help create healthy individuals in our care.

that's just a silly statement. Caffeine is the most used legal drug in the world, and one that most healthcare providers use. Well-adjusted is definitely up to interpretation, and if Coffee is a crutch then I am using a walker.

See previous posts about the positive health benefits of the Cannibidiols in THC, to include (but not limited to) reducing seizure activity, pain relief, stimulation of appetite for those on Chemo (for instance).... could go on and on. The science is there. Whether or not one should use it at work goes the way of using alcohol at work - or Oxycodone, or anything else that is worse than Marijuana. Common sense, people.