Nurses smoking weed?

[bunnynurse]

Hey nurses,

In honor of "420" tomorrow... As a health-care professional, what are your thoughts on smoking weed? Any nurses out there that smoke a joint here and there?

Cheers.

[jackiecap]

It's totally ok!

[SunnyPupRN]

Completely believe it should be legal, recreationally and medically. No judgment from me for anyone who partakes [ as long as you aren't impaired or under the influence while working ] - but until it's sanctioned, I will stay away. And even when it is legal, smoking it probably isn't the best way to take it. Still too much smoke in the lungs, burning in the throat.

[Spine_CRNA, BSN, RN]

I'm surprised by the amount of nurses that are against weed. And to such a degree at that! Personally I do smoke weed because I'm not being drug tested outside of the initial employment one. And no, I'm not under the influence when I'm at work. I only smoke on off days and if on a work day, then very early as I work night shift.

[jax777]

Wait, you mean seeing your name printed by the board of nursing telling everyone your license is revoked or suspended because you smoked weed doesn't sound like a good time to you??

I also know of an X-Ray tech who was drug-tested and terminated for smoking pot. He was also blacklisted and will never work in a hospital again. It's definitely not worth throwing away your medical career over.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

I'm surprised by the amount of nurses that are against weed. And to such a degree at that! Personally I do smoke weed because I'm not being drug tested outside of the initial employment one. And no, I'm not under the influence when I'm at work. I only smoke on off days and if on a work day, then very early as I work night shift.

So, you work in an area where there is absolutely no chance of drug diversion, improper waste procedure, or better yet, no narcotics at all??

Otherwise, I think you're being incredibly overconfident.

I have nothing against weed personally.

I just don't feel like throwing away a four decade career. It IS illegal on a Federal level, and even if you're in a legal state, employers have the right to say "Bye, Felicia" if you test positive for something that they don't like. Even legal things like nicotine and alcohol.

[sherri64]

Just a few points to make. For working in an ER - I always tell patients "no one has ever overdose from Marijuana." Most of our violent, hostile, horrible patients are almost always drunk or intoxicated with Alcohol and another substance.

It is ridiculous to imply any violent tendency when you are discussing a study of the effects of Marijuana with a person with PTSD, for example, who may already have anger issues or another psychiatric problem. That study, wherever that may be, may not be taking into account their anger or possible violent tendencies PRIOR to the Marijuana. That is likely a skewed study.

I wouldn't ever advise anyone to SMOKE marijuana or cigarettes. Smoking anything is toxic to your lungs and body. Nicotine has no positive benefits.

Alcohol and Marijuana honestly should not even be mentioned in the same sentence if you're discussing "dangers." You can die from Alcohol intoxication, you cannot die from Marijuana intoxication. You would never need to be intubated from a Marijuana "overdose," you will from alcohol if you are unconscious and unable to maintain your airway. Alcohol abuse destroys your body and leads to multiple organ damage, to include liver damage, esophageal varices, just to name a few awful conditions. There is no comparison.

As for the link of Schizophrenia, those young adults who are predisposed are due to genetics, not to Marijuana.

If you do some research you will find that it is possible to OD on marijuana and that people have died from it. So your statement you are giving patients in ER is incorrect. I believe in medical marijuana, not recreational. And no, comparing it to ETOH is wrong. That is like apples and oranges. Very different drugs.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

What a thoughtfully written post. I commend you.

[sherri64]

When I lived in Denver, it was legal on the state level, yes, but employers still screened you and refused to employ anyone who tested positive for marijuana. It's still illegal federally. Most employers screen for nicotine, now, too, and refuse to employ those who use it, even though it is not illegal at all.

The employers in CO are actually more stringent with drug screens because they believe that the pothead culture will cause employees to slip up more. (How do I know? I asked a few.)

As far as there being no repercussions from overdose, that is not true. Here is a link: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/833828-overview

Here is a quote if you don't want to read the whole thing:

"Acute cannabis toxicity results in difficulty with coordination, decreased muscle strength, decreased hand steadiness, postural hypotension, lethargy, decreased concentration, slowed reaction time, slurred speech, and conjunctival injection. Large doses of THC may produce confusion, amnesia, delusions, hallucinations, anxiety, and agitation, but most episodes remit rapidly. Chronic users may experience paranoia, panic disorder, fear, or dysphoria."

Frankly, I don't want you handling my care if you are suffering from amnesia, delusions, hallucinations, etc. I really don't want you coming at me with needles if your hands are unsteady and your coordination is off.

You may use the argument that cannabis is better than alcohol, spaghetti, or whatever, but it doesn't matter. It is still dangerous in and of itself.

I have seen people put forth the argument that driving drunk is worse than driving high. Again, it doesn't matter. Driving high is still dangerous in and of itself. Slowed reaction times and decrease in coordination are not qualities I admire in drivers, especially when I watch them weaving while they're trying to roll a joint. (Oh, Denver...) If you're so stupid that you don't know to pull over, you're too stupid to drive.

If you use MJ medically and responsibly, good for you! That's awesome. I have no beef with you. I actually applaud you for trying to find something that works for you. Just don't expect to do that and be a nurse.

Well informed post. Thanks for the link. I had looked up overdosing and such on pot and found quite a bit a while back. Have a relative who has used for 40 years and didn't believe me till I showed him all the stuff I found, including what you posted. He quit. But damages have already been done.

[MunoRN, RN]

If you do some research you will find that it is possible to OD on marijuana and that people have died from it. So your statement you are giving patients in ER is incorrect. I believe in medical marijuana, not recreational. And no, comparing it to ETOH is wrong. That is like apples and oranges. Very different drugs.

Source?

[sherri64]

These are just some sources of Marijuana overdose and problems. There is a lot of information out there to read and sort through. Like anything else, some questionable, some legit. If you want sources for the differences in ETOH and marijuana, there is a lot of legit resources. As a nurse I taught DIP schools for DUI/OVI clients and believe me, I did my research and the state of Ohio considers my class content on the hazards of both as the standard for classes.

[sherri64]

These are just a few sources:

Page not found | Huzlers

Marijuana Overdose – Signs Of Marijuana Overdose – Treating Marijuana Overdose

Marijuana Overdose Through Pot Edibles A Cause For Concern, Says CDC

http://www.projectknows.com/research/marijuana-overdose

Just google marijuana overdose. The data is there. People are shocked it can happen, let alone someone die from it. Rare but there. Especially the overdoses with edibles. The Huzlers site is online. It is titled 59 people die of Marijuana Overdose in Colorado and Washington. I'll try to post it again. 59 People Die of Marijuana Overdose in Colorado and Washington After Legalization

[PMHNP10]

It is ridiculous to imply any violent tendency when you are discussing a study of the effects of Marijuana with a person with PTSD, for example, who may already have anger issues or another psychiatric problem. That study, wherever that may be, may not be taking into account their anger or possible violent tendencies PRIOR to the Marijuana. That is likely a skewed study.

Not sure what's ridiculous about it--I'd love to find an original research article, but here's a link to a Medscape article on one study indicating there is in fact an increase in violence in individuals with PTSD: Medscape: Medscape Access

I wouldn't ever advise anyone to SMOKE marijuana or cigarettes. Smoking anything is toxic to your lungs and body.

I don't know that I totally agree, but once again, more studies needed to get a definitive idea. Smoking Marijuana Not Bad For The Lungs - Medical News Today

Nicotine has no positive benefits.

Not correct. I don't know how much experience you have working with schizophrenic patients, but have you ever noticed why schizophrenics smoke like chimneys (and at a significantly higher percentage than the general population)? Also, if you observe them they often take real deep hits of their cigs. There is a reason for this. Schizophrenics have a really hard time with congnitive function such as focusing on a particular stimuli. So if you are speaking with them in an empty room and are trying to educate them (because that is what we do as nurses) the air coming through the vents, the sounds of traffic and/or people outside the room and any other noises take equal precedence to your voice. When nicotine hits the nicotinergic receptors in the brain they achieve brief moments of mental clarity, so to speak. Unfortunately nicotine's action on these receptors last a few seconds, hence the need to smoke 'em while you got 'em.

Alcohol and Marijuana honestly should not even be mentioned in the same sentence if you're discussing "dangers." You can die from Alcohol intoxication, you cannot die from Marijuana intoxication. You would never need to be intubated from a Marijuana "overdose," you will from alcohol if you are unconscious and unable to maintain your airway. Alcohol abuse destroys your body and leads to multiple organ damage, to include liver damage, esophageal varices, just to name a few awful conditions. There is no comparison.

If someone makes a blanket statement that marijuana is safer than alcohol (i.e., without a qualifying statement such as abuse, addict, misues, etc., which a few did make blanket statements), I say that is a false assumption as I stated in my OP. For example, a glass of wine with dinner for most people who do not have a history of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol is less problematic than casual use of mj (whatever one might consider casual use given there are no established safe guidelines for mj use).

As for the link of Schizophrenia, those young adults who are predisposed are due to genetics, not to Marijuana.

I did not say or even imply mj use predisposes anyone to schizophrenia. I said there is an increase incidence of mj users later meeting criteria for a dx of schizophrenia; there is no causative relationship, rather a correlation. To be clear, individuals can have the genetic predisposition for schizophrenia and never exhibit a psychotic symptom. Perhaps chronic mj use is that environmental factor (or one of many possible factors) that result in the expression of that schizophrenic gene. I'm not a genetics specialist, so I can only speculate about the possible details of the link between mj and the dx.