Will marijuana ever be okay in nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

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

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?

Don't have to smoke it! Mind you, never used it when working and am hoping medical (at least) will someday be legal in my state. I would happily try it to see if it helps with pain and poor sleep due to mod/severe spinal stenosis.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

If cannabis was not classified as a Schedule 1 drug, more research and evidence could be gathered upon which the BONs could base their decisions. Rescheduling cannabis is something that must happen at the Federal level. This is the logical first step that must happen in order for "marijuana to be okay" in nursing or any other professional environment. I think that no matter what state we're from, we should advocate for a federal rescheduling of cannabis and let the resulting research support our policies.

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Really hate to be 'that' guy BUT: This is a warning from 1982. With the last review of the page being 2001! I acknowledge that the source IS from the Surgeon General, however alot can change in 30+ years.

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Really hate to be 'that' guy BUT: This is a warning from 1982. With the last review of the page being 2001! I acknowledge that the source IS from the Surgeon General, however alot can change in 30+ years. Just my 2 cents though.

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
It's not a matter of how dumb, elkpark, respectfully. It's a matter of reality. People are using it medicinally and now some recreationally as well, legally. Its found to be helpful, for some very helpful.

People do dumb stuff on opiates more and more everyday. Have you noticed on the news how many addicts lately are found passed out in their cars, OD'd in the parking lots of convenience stores, with their babies in the back in the car seat??? They're sooo addicted they can't live without it physically without harsh physical withdrawals. Something has got to be done about this opioid crisis and cannabis may help or even may be the answer to the problem.

People also do really dumb stuff on alcohol, maybe more so than cannabis. Who knows? Someone on here said their husband who was a law enforcement officer said cannabis users in general seemed to be much less belligerent to deal with than alcohol users so...who knows? It just needs to be studied more. Maybe it could help society as a whole. Who knows?

Both opiates and alcohol are physically addictive, correct? I believe so. Is cannabis? Not physically, I don't think.

Plus now that some more progressive states are legalizing cannabis for recreational use wouldn't that be discriminatory to allow drinkers but not cannabis users? I don't know??? I guess an employer can do whatever they want really.

Times are changing and we need to study these issues not only for our patients but also for ourselves if so desired.

All change has to start with awareness of the problem, right? That's not dumb, is it?

Opiates are being used where something much less harmful or addictive or killing could be used in its place. I don't call that dumb. I call that speaking out.

A lot of good young people are dying from opioid addiction. Lots of babies are being left without parents. Something has got to give.

This has nothing tibdi with the argument whether nurses should be using while working . The MUH confirms that there is no linear relationship between the amount of detectable marijuana and the level of intellectual or psychomotor skills. Your knee hurts and MJ makes it better? Just don't drive, come to work or get annoyed because you failed an employment drug test.

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.
Personally, I don't see any benefit from allow the free recreational use of marijuana.

I think the major benefit of legalization is ability to provide oversight and regulation to the production and sale of the product. Illicit marijuana production has a profoundly negative environmental impact, and also exposes users to variable potency and unknown levels of pesticides, heavy metals, additives etc.

Plus, think of the tax revenues, and the cash we can divert from drug traffickers. We would reduce the burden on the criminal justice system, and be able to refocus our financial resources instead on strategies to reduce substance use. Things like investing in publicly funded extracurricular and recreational opportunities for teens, providing support to single and low income parents, increasing access to mental health services, etc etc.

Professionally, I cannot refute a possible source of helpful medication derived from the plant/ingrediants. It was in this way we have derived a number of our now most life saving medications.

Marijuana is medicine in the same way willow bark is medicine- unstandardized, unregulated, unpredictable and wildly variable in potency. Medical marijuana dispensaries are a *joke.* Everyone knows they are primarily a front for recreational marijuana use.

Patients deserve access to truly standardized, purified, pharmaceutical grade cannabinoids that have stood the scrutiny of extensive safety and efficacy trials.

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This has nothing tibdi with the argument whether nurses should be using while working ...

I may have got sidetracked in to the opioid crisis and the possible benefits cannabis may have.

I think we all agree neither should be used at work, nor should alcohol for that matter.

BTW, what's tibdi?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

tibdi = to do

I speak DYAC

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Thanks, klone. Is that a Star Trek language? :greyalien:

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Thanks, klone. Is that a Star Trek language? :greyalien:

Can't tell if you're joking.

DYAC = Damn You Autocorrect

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

My question is not for use in patients. We get pts that are prescribed marinol occasionally.

If nurses can use medications for chronic pain, and they live in a state where it is legal, would they be able to use it for medicinal purposes. There are plenty of edibles, so no smoking.

I have issues with cigarette smoking as it is the most detrimental thing to complicate everything from ortho healing to diabetes to cardiac issues.

If a person can get a prescription for a scheduled pain medication and are able to work, why couldn't the same be done for marijuana?

Being an ortho nurse, I see SO many people with chronic pain. We can't medicate them beyond what they take, other than ketamine while they are in the hospital. We also use regional nerve blocks when appropriate.

I think the evidence is starting to point toward benefits of marijuana. I think we should take a serious look.

BTW, I live in a state where it is not legal, I do not smoke it (or ingest it in any form) As a teenager, I never liked the way it made me feel. I am old now. I just think we need some new options. Take away the opioids that are prescribed and watch the heroin use go sky high.

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I can say YES!! Lifespan in RI, a gold star hospital has verbiage that specifically states "lifespan hospitals are tobacco and drug free. We do not hire users if tobacco, illegal drugs or NONMEDICAL marijuana." So I would yes if this major hospital group allows it others will eventually follow suit.

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