Will marijuana ever be okay in nursing?

[Bakingismylife]

Okay I realize my username isn't the best for this topic... anyways

Let's talk about marijuana. The fact that it's illegal is mindblowing. Let's ban a plant but not life crippling narcotics. We all know that marijuana is safer than alcohol.

Unfortunately with the weed being legal in certain states, I feel like the BON wouldn't care about those laws. Plus being illegal on a federal level (what.) doesn't help either.

So do you guys think weed will ever be okay in nursing? I hope one day it will be. To be honest, with all the stress (mentally and physically) we go through, a joint might be extremely beneficial. What do you guys think?

[chare]

Oh yes of course. I do not smoke marijuana as it's too risky. However I think the BON should use evidence based practice and consider marijuana. It's a just stigma, people.

Exactly what evidence should the boards of nursing consider regarding recreational use of marijuana?

[Buckeye.nurse]

There isn't really any clinical trial level evidence for marijuana currently. Just tons of anecdotal evidence--which a BON shouldn't and isn't going to use. That's why one of the points of the American Nursing Association's position statement asks for marijuana to be reclassified to a schedule II controlled substance so that research can be conducted. Only then will practitioners be able to make informed decisions.

[wondern, ASN]

Doesn't that seem just crazy to y'all? Opiums are used readily in patient care but not cannabis?

Then some of those patients get addicted. That is sad and scary.

I know they are awesome when really needed. I don't want to go without in an emergency that's for sure.

[wondern, ASN]

Exactly what evidence should the boards of nursing consider regarding recreational use of marijuana?

I wonder what evidence they used for recreational use of alcohol?

I guess they need to study how long the actual high is in one's system. How do scientists do that? A blood test wouldn't be accurate I wouldn't think if it stays in blood over 30 days.

Do scientists do functioning/cognitive studies? That would make sense.

What about nurses who use cannabis medicinally? They don't get their medicine?

Oh, the irony of life.

I also wonder if it's available in a pill form yet? Opium sure is.

[chare]

I wonder what evidence they used for recreational use of alcohol?

Most likely the fact that alcohol isn't a Schedule I controlled substance.

[wondern, ASN]

Most likely

It does make one wonder.

[djh123]

Just a real quick comment re: marijuana - not for nurses - but I have a patient right now who has a Rx for medical marijuana, and I really think it helps him.

[wondern, ASN]

I forgot the pill form are gummies! That would be kind of nice to be able to give old people or whoever their gummy pills for anxiety or pain or whatever it is prescribed for. If they could make them sugar-free for diabetics too that would be extra nice.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Sure of course, but there is honestly nothing wrong with marijuana.

The Surgeon General's Warning on Marijuana

[klone, MSN, RN]

Just a real quick comment re: marijuana - not for nurses - but I have a patient right now who has a Rx for medical marijuana, and I really think it helps him.

I don't think anyone is arguing that medicinal marijuana isn't beneficial for some conditions and treatment management. That's supposed to say SYMPTOM management, sorry.

[wondern, ASN]

I did not realize how many studies have been done on alcohol. I support further studies like these for marijuana. I would hope it could help with the opioid crisis.

Also if you used gummies that wouldn't hurt your patient's lungs.

I just agree with OP that it may be less harmful than what is legal, either alcohol or opioids. I just added alcohol because that's what some people want after work and it's okay for them. Everybody's system is so unique and reacts differently to some degree.

Alcohol Portal | CDC

[TinaMWrtr]

I have had this convo with my wife several times. She is a chemist and works in a toxicology lab as a supervisor and used to be an analyst with the same company. They get urine, blood, and saliva samples from doctor offices, courts, smaller labs, etc. I think the biggest issue with this is stigma, but that will dissipate in the coming years. The next big hurdle is testing. Currently, there are no tests that can measure the "current" level of marijuana in your system, like BAC. Blood tests show if you've consumed it all in the last few weeks, not in the past 24 hours or so, which makes it difficult to jobs to accurately determine how sober you are as a nurse.