Doctors along with nurses are actually gatekeepers for medical marijuana and the usage of this. They do get sick on occasion, and they may use medical cannabis to treat the conditions that they have. They can have these, but there are some risks that are important to factor in mind if you’re a doctor who is using medical cannabis.
The Rules
Whether someone is registered with a card ultimately depends on the state that they live in, and the state’s medical board guidelines. It’s a very grey area, as it’s still considered federally legal, and a few states haven’t legalized it for medical use. The NCSBN, which is basically the state board for nursing, has helped with other state boards to provide the guidelines for those who are cardholders that work in the field of medicine.
RNs that are working and living in states that have legalized the use of cannabis medically are allowed to use the cards. However, you have to make sure that the cannabis won’t interfere with the work that they do. So while they can use medical cannabis, you cannot go to the job while high, as that’s a bad thing, and they’re reprimand you for doing so.
They also recommend that doctors of cannabis are used as recommendations for physicians. The physicians have also been given the okay to use marijuana in states where they have it legalized. However, if you’re doing a job, you’re not allowed to use it, as they’re supposed to have a care standard that means they must be free from all impairment, and this includes not only THC, but other substances too, such as alcohol and other drugs. THC metabolites do cling to your fat cells, so it’s important to remember that you can actually test positive even if you’re not high.
Hospitals do test, and they do offer a zero-tolerance policy for this. While you may not use your nursing or physician’s license to get marijuana, doing so will make you lose your job. Some states don’t have a medical board policy based on the use of cannabis for a doctor or a nurse but if they’re impaired in some way, the actions must be taken to prevent this.
Most of the states will leave it up to the actual employer to ensure that the workplace is safe and drug-free. If you violate these, you will get terminated, even if the person does have a cannabis card for medical reasons. New Jersey and other states, however, are trying to put together legislation that allows for medical cannabis usage, provided that there is some exception to this.
Can others Get a Medical Card
If you’re someone who works in the medical field as a healthcare provider., you can, but do suspect that you may be tested at any time. If you need to utilize cannabis, do it when you’re not going to be working, and make sure it’s out of the system prior to returning to work.
Most medical schools and nursing programs do require you to have a drug test prior to being admitted, and they do happen throughout the program, to offer a more immersive experience. This is usually urine drug screening, and different testing policies based on the different healthcare agencies affiliated with this. Testing for this means that it may possibly prevent you from participating.
So a good rule of thumb is, if you’re going to be in medical school in some way, shape or form, you should avoid using medical cannabis, as it can impact your ability to work.
