[BamaRN]

Hi all. I am a male nursing student in my 2nd semester of school. I have 3 more after this and will take the boards next fall. I'm really excited about all of the possibilities and most of all (not to sound too cliche)about the opportunities to change lives that I'll have. I do have a question for current RN's. I occasionally smoke small ammounts of marijuana. I don't have remorse or shame because I know it's a personal choice that I let affect noone around me. I only do it alone or with very close friends. I don't sell it or try to get anyone else to try it. My question is, where (if anywhere) does this fit into the nursing scene? I understand (to some degree) society's view on it and totally understand how a healthcare system would or could have an aversion to people involved with it. I know also that most hospitals and systems have a drug policy and enforce it via testing. However, as I stated, I do not affect people with my use and would certainly not let it interfere in any way with my work as a nurse. Can anyone relate to this? Thank you.

[All41]

I used to believe that marijuana should be legalized even though I do not smoke it. I was just as brainwashed as you appear to be. I changed my mind when I did my clinical for my BSN (2002). I spent 6wks. at Step One, a drug counseling program in my city. I found out that THC attaches to fat, ergo making it fat soluble. I am sure you know or will learn that it takes a long time, if ever, to reach fat stored in the body. You may not know that there is a large amount of fat storage in the brain. Over time, the build up of THC attaches to the fat in the brain in the area of the synapse eventually causing signals to misfire. The taking of any drug has an insidious effect, thereby confusing us into thinking we aren't really doing any harm. I would like to caution you that your dalliance with THC will eventually and with certainty, cause you harm both personally and professionally. Please allow me to share this from one of my textbooks..."We say to you, 'With so much power, walk carefully and humbly. Do no harm: walk carefully so that the granite weight of that power does not crush. Abide with us.'"
Berger, 1996
If you want to smoke, change professions. If you want a career like no other on earth, cease immediately.
Thank-you for listening!

[Aaron C.]

when I was in college....(graduated H.S. in '95) I did my fair share.

I don't think it's a big deal, but when you are working in a healthcare setting, it's a big NO-NO!

If you're going to do it anyway, don't do it around/during your work time. The effects are longer lasting than you think, at least in terms of slowing you down.

You are going to have to pass a drug test no matter what hospital you work for, and probably at most nursing homes.

I think it would be okay to legalize it, at least in comparison to Alchohol, but two wrongs don't make a right.

I drink alchohol about once every week or so, so I can't say it's wrong, but it definately impairs you and can take control of your life, see our addicts forum. I think that the effects of Marijuana pale in comparison to alchohol, but with weed you have "social opinion" as well as the fact that it is illegal, and religious groups don't want it, and beer co's don't want it.

I'd rather my children (when they get older) smoke pot than drink alcohol, because I don't think it impairs you near as much. But I don't want them going to jail, getting fired, or kicked out of school either.

Enough rambling. You're going to have to quit or REALLY cut down.

[Anonymous]

I hate to disagree with you Aaron...But I have been a nurse for 24 years..And this last September was the first time I ever did a drug screen for a nursing position.

Please remember not all hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare institutions require drug screens.

I have worked in CT, NV, CA and now NC..Not to mention my home state of Maine..I worked at Maine Medical twice and neither time was I required to do a drug screen..The last time being in 2001.


WR,,, three commas for Becca

I am not commenting on MJ it's use or non use..Just the fact that the poster posted says he's concerned.

[Aaron C.]

wow, one drug screen? Wow. I can't imagine. I've only gotten one job and taken one drug screen, so I'm one for one.

[Anonymous]

One and only.. I even had top secret government clearance in the 70's before I was a nurse with out a drug screen.


Not every thing is always cut and dried...


WR,,, three commas for Becca

My son is USMC and he won't eat poppy seeds...

[Generation2]

Not doing anyone any harm? Maybe you haven't heard of the drug war? People killed by drug dealers, drug money fueling violent cartels, smugglers, street gangs? Go up to the wife or kids of a DEA officer or cop killed in the line of duty, and tell them about how nobody gets hurt because of drugs. Man, that's just asinine. A family member of mine is an undercover cop, busting local dealers. I worry about him because people like you are able to fool themselves into believing that what they do doesn't impact other people. A nurse should know better.

[All41]

To Everyone, and in response to Aaron's reply; alcohol does indeed cause more tangible negative responses but I would liken it to our response to airline crashes vs. automobile crashes. Just because we don't hear of the sum total of lives ruined from 1)breaking the law and incarceration (which can financially ruin a family or create orphans for our society to 2)getting high, using bad judgement for whatever comes across one's path be it other drugs or unprotected sex; you cannot make the comparison that one is less harmful. As to lasting effects, the body rids itself of the total physiological effect of alcohol in due time, while the fat soluble THC sticks around. Last, please let me offer some caution to Generation2 for making the comment that a nurse should know better. Drugs are an equal opportunity exploiter. Being a nurse does not make you more inhuman than the next. Don't hold anyone in higher regard because by the Grace of God, anyone of us could be captured by addiction. We are only here to guide, treat, and not condemn.

[BamaRN]

First off, Gen. Can we please avoid the stereotypes and condescension. I have heard it all before and I don't really want to get into a debate on whether marijuana is wrong or right. I'm sorry if you or someone close to you has ever been affected by drugs or have been killed due to the "war on drugs". But I will adamently defend myself and marijuana smokers everywhere in that there's no way you can categorize us with cop killers. You don't think murder resulted from prohibition and the governments war on alcohol in the 20's? Murder is a result of violent means of opposition, and I'll say that for every 10 violent alcoholics I've known, it's hard to find 1 violent pot smoker. And on that note, I myself, along with millions of other people are able to consume alcohol in a responsible way that does not compromise their judgement and is inconsequential to others. So let's please avoid judgement here.

On another note, All41. I understand your argument but I counter with this, and I could very well be wrong, but I would think the only "thc" held in fat cells are non-psychoactive thc metabolites that would have no adverse effect at all on long-term brain function.
The "Society for Neuroscience" has this to say...

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In radioactive tracing studies, scientists found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, binds to specific receptors, many of which coordinate movement. Thismay explain why people who drive after they smoke marijuana are impaired. The hippocampus, a structure involved with memory storage and learning, also contains many THC receptors. This may explain why heavy users or those intoxicated on marijuana have poor short-term memory and problems processing complex information. Scientists recently discovered that these receptors normally bind to a natural internal chemical
called anandamide, and are now working to see how this natural marijuana affects brain function.
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I highly doubt these receptors are going to react from thc metabolites stored in your fat cells. The receptors are only effected immediately after consumption.
Also note that it only mentions that there are receptors present but not their actual reaction to thc. Any reaction or effect to these receptors are merely postulated. And lastly, isn't the fat in the brain different from fat in the body in that it's not stored fat that acts as energy but more of a consistent of the brain itself?

[Aaron C.]

I had a friend in college who smoked pot every single day. I'm not sure of a time when he wasn't high. That dude was the slowest person I know. He was smart as hell, but it was like he was in slow motion all the time. Pretty sure it was because of smoking all that pot.

Gen,

I think you have been somewhat misled into believing that marijuana and other drugs such as crack cocoine, heroin, etc. are all the same.

Marijuana is clearly NOT in the same class. The so-called "war on drugs" should not IMO include Marijuana. Pot smokers are almost 100% NON-violent. People don't kill people/rob/steal to get weed. It just doesn't happen.

I'm in no way condoning it with this post, just saying that it's not even remotely in the same category.