Question about marijuana use as a nurse

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I used to use marijuana only as a recreational drug, recently it was prescribed to me due to anxiety and lack of appetite. If you have a prescription to marijuana and you test positive on a drug screening, would you still be allowed to work? Would an application for employment be denied?

Personally, I think that you should be able to. I believe that you should be able to do whatever you want during your off hours, as long as it is not affecting your performance at work, whether that is going home and having a few beers, or smoking a joint.

Honestly, I feel more in control of myself and a lot safer when using marijuana over drinking alcohol. Going into the nursing field really does take a special kind of person that wants to help people. If we didn't have the genuine desire to help, most likely, we would not have made it through school.

I would never come into work high any more than I would come into work drunk, so it wouldn't affect the way that I treat patients. Why would I enter a field to help people, just to hinder my performance and actually put them in harms way? There are restrictions on marijuana just like there are on any other prescription drug, just like the "do not operate heavy machinery" restriction. If it is legal, prescribed, and not affecting me at work, I don't think that my license should be at stake.

There are legal, prescription meds that will alleviate anxiety and to gain an appetite. My brother in law is on both as a Crohn's patient. Really, weed is all that works for you? I find that hard to believe.

Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, PACU,SICU.
"Oh and he was given the Rx for anxiety, and it appears that serveral of his friends are also anxious people because he is always smoking outside with at least 5 or 6 of them."

Now that is a coincidence.. :roflmao: and I am from Amsterdam, where it is legal, but I totally think its ridiculous.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Now that is a coincidence.. :roflmao: and I am from Amsterdam, where it is legal, but I totally think its ridiculous.

I'd be wiling that the poster was being sarcastic. But, Yes, California has a wide range of complaints for prescription usage of MJ, and unscrupulous primary providers to prescribe it, that makes it almost comical.

I am a firm believer in medical marijuana. I think it is wrong to deny it to many patients that are on other "drugs" for pain relief that have much further reaching complications. BUt....

OP......hospitals and facilities deny hiring people if the smoke, if they are on certain psych meds, certain pain meds, have certain diagnoses. They can deny whomever they wish. Just because it is legal doesn't mean the board will continue to allow you to have an active license....many states have mandatory reporting if a licensed person seeks psychiatric care.

I'd be checking with the BON of California and an attorney. Just because it is legal doesn't mean they have to accept that you take it and they don't have to allow you to work.

I wish you the best.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

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Specializes in ED, trauma.

You had a lack of appetite and anxiety?

I think a lack of appetite would be a good thing in nursing, cause chances are you won't get a lunch break, or you take breaks in 5 minute intervals throughout the day.

Anxiety. I think if you are SO anxious you need medical marijuana because standard prescriptions do not work for you, perhaps being in a nursing environment is not for you at all.

Anxiety as a nurse that is so debilitated by it (s)he uses marijuana to cope, that sounds absurd. I wouldn't want an "occasional" binge drinker as my nurse either. That doesn't sound safe as a whole, and I am willing to bet the BON feels the same way.

Just think, with social media these days, there are nurses being fired for having pictures of themselves out drinking and partying and walking in a drunken stupor. So why would your marijuana use be any different?

Specializes in PACU, ED.

Employers have to consider the legal implications of having employees who may test positive on a drug screen. Even though a person may have not used for several days, a plaintiff's attorney would dance a jig if hospital employees involved in an incident had a positive drug screen.

Personally, I don't care if people use marijuana at home if they work in food service, programming, landscaping, etc. However, there are some people who I want to be at the top of their game at work. Just a few examples are airline pilots, surgeons, nurses, nuclear plant workers, police, and firemen.

Sorry, regardless of anything, I have a brother and sister who are abusers of marijuana. Even when they are not high, I can see a huge change in them compared to who they were prior to smoking pot. I noticed that their memory is a bit shot, and my brother especially is a bit dull. Neither are quite as sharp. Not to say they aren't smart- but something changed in both of them. I would not want the nurse caring for me to be on marijuana, for any reason.

I live in a state with medical marijuana laws, and total legality is on the ballot this Nov. (unlikely to pass, but hey, we're trying).

The deal with our state is that legally authorized medical use is not a protection against arrest, it is only an affirmative defense in court should you be arrested. This is because while legal in the view of the state, it remains Federally illegal, which trumps state law.

Because it is technically not legal, there is no need for employers to recognize it as medication or anything else besides an illicit street drug.

That said, it will depend on your employer. I've worked for a place that "allowed" it. The medical director was a medical cannabis advocate, so admin was relaxed about it. However, I saw admin use their medical status against an employee. If they know about and look the other way from your use, they can hold it above your head. If you say something wrong, look at them funny, or they just hate your face that day, all they have to do is call you in for a "random" drug test and then fire you for testing positive - like they knew you would.

My advice: do not use cannabis while looking for a job. Do not test positive on a pre-employment drug test. Do not tell your new co-workers and managers that you have a prescription. Do not do anything to endanger your patients or yourself (i.e.: GO TO WORK HIGH). Do not give your employers any reason to suspect anything and randomly test you. Most places will not spend the money for regular 'random' testing if they have no suspicions.

Basically, don't be dumb.

Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

The answer is NO -you cannot pass a drug test. MJ is in your hair forever until you cut it off.

Specializes in Home Care.

Sometimes we have difficult choices to make in life....smoke weed or become a nurse. :speechless:

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

In my state, where we have liberal medical marijuana laws and can obtain a card that allows us to purchase and use cannabis, it is still incompatible with a nursing license.

In all honesty, I used to be a regular consumer and I still love the smell of the stuff, but the choice between being around MJ vs. keeping my RN license is no choice at all. Hmmmm......smoking weed, or being able to put food on the table? Smoking weed, or having a job I can be proud of and living like a decent human being? :no: Dunno about anyone else, but it's a no-brainer for me.

Specializes in Emergency/Trauma.

many facilities in my state not only test for controlled substances, but also alcohol and nicotine. applicants are denied if they are alcohol or nicotine positive. so yes, you will most likely be denied for positive marijuana screening. not sure if they would report you to the board of nursing, but i would think they would.

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