Nurses smoking weed?

allnurses Guide · Apr 22, 2016

Perhaps they meant to say that putting smoke in your lungs is safer than putting alcohol in your lungs?

We then, yes . . . drowning in wine would be worse.

AlphaM · Apr 22, 2016

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Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2016

Thinking it's a dumb law or that drug testing for THC is dumb policy doesn't in any way negate the negative consequences of testing positive.

Another sad of example of a risk that ended badly:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/i-failed-my-1048574.html

Maevish, ASN, RN · Apr 23, 2016

I WISH!!

Ok, that was kind of silly, but as someone who lives in a "legal" state and who has horrible migraines, I hate the fact that I can't have a little something when I'm having a headache (and throwing up and shaking) so bad I want to kill myself.

I tried it twice (before I knew about the nursing thing) years ago because a friend took pity on me and wanted to see if it would help. I hated the smell, but took a couple drags and I cried afterwards because it took me from wanting to die to being completely fine in only a couple minutes. Back then it wasn't legal so I just was so upset that something like ETOH (which I love as well so it isn't an attack on that at all) is legal, but this natural, miracle plant wasn't.

That same friend let me try it again months later for the same reason and it worked just as well as the first time.

I can't stand the fact that, rather than using a minimal amount of something, I have to just deal with it. That means calling off work sometimes, not being able to buy meds for it because they're $500-$700 for 6 doses of something that works 45% of the time, or going to the ER and spending $3500 on a visit because my "insurance" sucks.

It's so sad and stupid because it's good for so many things, but yeah, I won't do it now....

Nursynursenurse, ADN, RN · Apr 23, 2016

I hope you're joking here, driving under the influence of any substance is dangerous. I'd love to see studies on the so called moderate doses you speak of, also I would love to know if you'd let a brain surgeon operate on you after smoking a joint :) would you?

Wait a minute, driving under the influence of any susbtance is dangerous? I frequently drive under the influence of caffeine and I guarantee it makes me a safer driver and may even prevent accidents when I am tired. If the surgeon smokes a little every day and has a tolerance then NOT smoking before my surgery would be even scarier. That's like telling a cigarette smoker they can't take a smoke break before performing some stressful test. A smokers gotta smoke. An addiction is an addiction but tobacco is the one that kills. Dosages have yet to be determined by the medical marijuana community. Like I said before, there isn't enough research yet.

SmilingBluEyes · Apr 23, 2016

My doctor, frustrated with trying to treat my chronic migraines, suggested marijuana as well. I said, well I would love to give it a go, except I need my license more than the pot. Sucks to be me.

Nursynursenurse, ADN, RN · Apr 23, 2016

Yeah, I hope that was satire as well.
Marijuana does impair our reflexes and thought-processes . . . and no, I wouldn't want a brain surgeon or any surgeon operating on me after imbibing in weed.
I still don't understand why putting smoke in your lungs is considered safer than having a glass of wine at dinner? Again, unless you are an alcoholic and over-imbibing in alcohol, putting smoke in your lungs seems more dangerous than alcohol, in moderation.

Marijuana is said to decrease stress, promote relaxation, stabilize mood, and improve creativity and focus. I've never heard of impaired reflexes being attributed to marijuana use but I wouldn't be surprised if there's some random article out there making that claim.

You don't have to put smoke in your lungs, there's always vaporizers or edibles. I'm hardly surprised that heavy marijuana users don't get far in life. I wonder how much is related to the fact that marijuana is still illegal and therefore users face a level of discrimination unheard of compared to that of heavy alcohol users.

NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN · Apr 23, 2016

If the surgeon smokes a little every day and has a tolerance then NOT smoking before my surgery would be even scarier.

That doesn't encourage me to see marijuana as safe for health professionals to use...

AlphaM · Apr 23, 2016

Wait a minute, driving under the influence of any susbtance is dangerous? I frequently drive under the influence of caffeine and I guarantee it makes me a safer driver and may even prevent accidents when I am tired. If the surgeon smokes a little every day and has a tolerance then NOT smoking before my surgery would be even scarier. That's like telling a cigarette smoker they can't take a smoke break before performing some stressful test. A smokers gotta smoke. An addiction is an addiction but tobacco is the one that kills. Dosages have yet to be determined by the medical marijuana community. Like I said before, there isn't enough research yet.

There are no randomized trials on the use of parachutes, so technically we can't say they save lives either "there isn't enough research" LOL! Ok if you want a surgeon high on marijuana to operate on you that's your prerogative, I will find a clean one (hopefully) LOL

aloevera · Apr 23, 2016

Stays in you 30+ days, not just a few

NEVER as long as I am working

agree tho, much safer than alcohol

hemonurseholly · Apr 23, 2016

I am not sure how this will pan out for anyone who actually needs it for medical reasons nurses or not. If you have MS but still are employed at any job but need it to get through life. Is it a fireable offence? I feel very strongly about people getting proper pain control and are denied because someone else (MD's) say they can't be in that much pain. Everyone is different and so is their pain tolerance. I feel that any way you can get proper treatment without the stigma of being labeled an addict or just a drug seeker is appropriate if it is legal. 19 people a day die in the US alone from opiate induced deaths. This is an unacceptable number of any kind of death. Herbal remedies have been around for thousands of years and rarely kill anyone, but does offer relief from chronic pain and side effects of other illnesses. If Marijuana becomes available legally for people who are Ill and need it. Then give it to them. Or poison them with opiates and narcotic that will give them side effects that they will need more pills for and more for those side effects etc... . The choice should be yours alone as long as it helps you live a better quality of life. This is a question with a time bomb attached.

Karatefoot · Apr 23, 2016

I can see both sides of this argument, on the one hand, it is illegal, on the other, it is just weed. Question, what states do y'all live in that you get drug tested?