URGENT question about pot smoking please read!

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Aug 16, 2003

Like other posts have said, it's illegal, so of course schools will see it as a problem.

SharonH, RN · Aug 16, 2003

I had no idea that so many nurses were so puritan.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Aug 16, 2003

I personally have smoked marijuana, enjoyed it, and was never addicted to it as I was to ETOH. I also don't believe it is anywhere near as dangerous as booze---when was the last time you heard of a pot smoker who assaulted someone, killed their spouse, or just generally turned into an a$$hole because of their habit? All it does is basically rob the smoker of any ambition he or she might have had, and frankly, this world could do with some mellower people.

That said, I sense some flippancy in your post that tells me you don't take the risks to your future all that seriously, and makes me question your commitment to nursing. For one thing, as other people have stated, it's ILLEGAL, and whether we agree with that or not, it's still the law. Where I live, the penalties for getting caught with weed are often less than for going 45 MPH in a 25 MPH zone, but if the state BON got wind of it, there goes the nursing license.....at the very least, one would be placed in the Nurse Monitoring program and watched carefully for a minimum of one year. Then the employer has grounds to terminate, regardless of whether one smokes once a day, or once a year. And if they don't fire you outright, they can test your blood or urine at any time they choose, and you have absolutely nothing to say about it except "OK, gimme the cup".

It's not worth it, DMR1. If you're going to be a nurse, you have to want that worse than you want to smoke pot. While I too wish we could go back to the days when our off-duty habits and behaviors were none of our employers' business---and I don't drink OR smoke anymore---those days are long gone, and we have to be grownups now.

allnurses Guide · Aug 16, 2003

"I personally have smoked marijuana, enjoyed it, and was never addicted to it as I was to ETOH. I also don't believe it is anywhere near as dangerous as booze---when was the last time you heard of a pot smoker who assaulted someone, killed their spouse, or just generally turned into an a$$hole because of their habit?" quote by mjlrn97

Hiya -steph here . . . meet exhibit A . . my ex-husband.

He chose marijuana over me and his two boys. He was violent at times. He had a car accident under the influence of pot and ended up in jail on the day my eldest son, then 2 years old, broke his leg.

Just because statistically alcohol seems more dangerous than pot (that may be due to the amount of people who drink (alot) vs the amount who smoke (not as much) . . . doesn't mean it isn't dangerous at all. There is danger to having your coordination and judgment effected by smoking pot and then driving.

There is nothing "puritan" about caring about whether people choose muddling their mind over getting an education. Or choosing pot over your kids.

1 capitalized : a member of a 16th and 17th century Protestant group in England and New England opposing as unscriptural the ceremonial worship and the prelacy of the Church of England

2 : one who practices or preaches a more rigorous or professedly purer moral code than that which prevails

Chosing not to use pot is a healthy choice. Why in the world berate someone for making a healthy choice?

steph

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Aug 16, 2003

Well said, steph.

There are plenty of articles about local people and their "weeded" behavior.

We got a copy of the statistics for this area last December at school. Forgot the numbers exactly but we had a lengthy discussion about how the weed-related incidents outranked the booze-induced ones in this area. But we will get another list this year and i'll post it later.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Aug 16, 2003

Steph---I wasn't berating DMR1 for making a healthy choice, I was questioning whether or not this person was actually going to stop for good because I've heard (and used) that tone before---"oh yeah, gonna quit, it's all good"---and it didn't last. It's like anything else, if you don't stop doing something harmful for the right reasons, namely "I don't want to do this anymore because it's getting in my way", you'll probably go back to it. That was the feeling I was getting from this particular individual, and that's what I responded to.

I'm sorry about your ex. My own DH had a problem with pot a number of years ago himself, but he was never violent or abusive---he was just unmotivated. I myself have a drinking problem, now have been in recovery for over 11 1/2 years, and of the two of us I am by far the bigger "addict", even though I drank only a few times a month. I WAS nasty and verbally abusive, I did neglect the kids, I was irresponsible and selfish. But when I finally gave up the booze, I gave it up for good. I will NEVER drink again, no matter how hard it is sometimes to stay sober even now. That's the kind of commitment I'm talking about, and I didn't feel that coming from DMR1. Sorry.

SharonH, RN · Aug 16, 2003

Originally posted by stevielynn
"I personally have smoked marijuana, enjoyed it, and was never addicted to it as I was to ETOH. I also don't believe it is anywhere near as dangerous as booze---when was the last time you heard of a pot smoker who assaulted someone, killed their spouse, or just generally turned into an a$$hole because of their habit?" quote by mjlrn97

Hiya -steph here . . . meet exhibit A . . my ex-husband.

He chose marijuana over me and his two boys. He was violent at times. He had a car accident under the influence of pot and ended up in jail on the day my eldest son, then 2 years old, broke his leg.

Just because statistically alcohol seems more dangerous than pot (that may be due to the amount of people who drink (alot) vs the amount who smoke (not as much) . . . doesn't mean it isn't dangerous at all. There is danger to having your coordination and judgment effected by smoking pot and then driving.

There is nothing "puritan" about caring about whether people choose muddling their mind over getting an education. Or choosing pot over your kids.

1 capitalized : a member of a 16th and 17th century Protestant group in England and New England opposing as unscriptural the ceremonial worship and the prelacy of the Church of England
2 : one who practices or preaches a more rigorous or professedly purer moral code than that which prevails

Chosing not to use pot is a healthy choice. Why in the world berate someone for making a healthy choice?

steph

Steph, I am certainly no advocate for illegal drug use. However, some of the attitudes expressed here do seem puritanical to me i.e. if you want to be a nurse, you must never, ever, never do anything bad from now on:nono: and that nurses are "brave and thick-skinned" and are held to a higher standard, etc. I would hate to be a nurse with a substance abuse program seeking understanding and support from some of my colleagues and getting these types of attitudes in return.

allnurses Guide · Aug 16, 2003

My comment about being berated was directed at the post from Sharon to all the "puritanical" nurses . . .not at anyone's post to the original poster.

I don't think the advice here about not using marijuana means any of us would be unsympathetic to a fellow nurse who has an addiction problem.

One does not equal the other.

I'm admittedly biased here . . . . so I'll bow out.

I do want to say to DMR1 . . . . . good for you for making a healthy choice. And thanks for answering my question.

steph

gwenith, BSN, RN · Aug 16, 2003

My favourite magazine has some sage words of wisdom to quote:

Only one thing is certain about the great marijuana debate: whether you are a prohibition-mad politician, or a stoned ex-hippy who would like to dish out the drug for free, you are likely to have a lot more opinions than facts.

Here is the link to the full article

http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/marijuana/

ceecel.dee, MSN, RN · Aug 16, 2003

Originally posted by Rustyhammer
One time a employer told me they were going to test me for drugs and I told them, "I smoke pot!" They waived the test and hired me anyway.
Once an employer sent out a memo with checks stating that signing this memo would give the administration the right to drug test employees at anytime and also the right to search their cars in the parking lot. I refused to sign stating I felt this was illegal as it was not a condition of my hire.
-Russell

I can't agree that thumbing your nose at employer's policy and procedure is okay...nor deserves any applause.

If they are willing to waive the rules of hire, will they waive the rules to support you when you decide to thumb your nose at the policy and procedures in place for, say, medication administration? You can now trust their integrity because they will hire an admitted drug user against their own policy?

Leadership example? :confused:

Good_Queen_Bess · Aug 16, 2003

I'd really like to get my 2 pence in! To all you moralists who preach about pot being so bad: Have you ever drank alcohol? Every gone to work with a hangover? Do you smoke cigarettes? If you do/have, then I really think you need to get off your moral high horse. Alcohol is far worse than a bit of pot now and again. Scientists have tried for years to discover the bad side-effects of dope. They have found one or two and are found in people who smoke several times a day. In the occasional user, THERE ARE NO PROVEN PERMANENT SIDE-EFFECTS! Also, a friend of mine (a nurse) has MS. She finds smoking pot helps control her symptoms. It's also proven to ease cancer sufferers. But we'd rather give them heroin instead to ease the pain.

I actually don't like mary-j that much, but live and let live. If it doesn't affect your work, what's the beef? I actually think blanket forced drug and alcohol testing is a violation of human rights.

Anyway, that wasn't the question. In the UK, I don't know of any nursing school/university that randomly drug-tests people. I think there would be a massive outcry. If you are unsure, I would stay well clear of the stuff. After all, whether you believe in decriminalisation or not, it's arbritry if they test you.

NurseJacqui · Aug 16, 2003

DMRI...What is more important to you...nursing school or pot? If you can answer that question, then you do not need our help. I can tell you right now...you WILL have a drug test before you start school and before you work in a hospital. If I were you I would cease and desist, starting NOW.