Impact of Legalized Recreational Marijuana on EMS?

ffemt8978 said:
If you need a chemical to help you relax after a shift, isn't that a sign of a bigger issue in how you deal with stress?
Click to expand...


I think that's situational dependent. If you're using every single night and it's the only thing hold in you together than yes, I agree, there's a problem.

If you're using recreationally/socially, every now and again I don't see an issue.
 
Golden Eye said:
So drinking alcohol and popping pills is fine, but smoking or injesting marijuana is looked down upon? Lol.
Click to expand...

… I think that they were remarking on the fact that smoking in bed is dangerous. Ever see a mattress fire? Those things don't spontaneously combust...
 
I've got no issues with marijuana use. But overall, don't tell me that setting something on fire and inhaling the smoke is healthy. It's not.

As for marijuana saving lives? Evidence please.

Not even going to touch the vaccine comments.
 
Tigger said:
I've got no issues with marijuana use. But overall, don't tell me that setting something on fire and inhaling the smoke is healthy. It's not.

As for marijuana saving lives? Evidence please.

Not even going to touch the vaccine comments.
Click to expand...

Tigger, you're absolutely right about smoking being unhealthy in general. Inhaling heated gas and particulates isn't good for you.

As for not touching the vaccine comment… May I? Vaccines DO NOT cause autism, and I still have no idea where the SIDS reference came from. Yes, autism is on the rise, but there is NO evidence that vaccines are in any way responsible. Yes, there are preservatives and various chemicals present in vaccines that are "bad" for you, but they are present in very small amounts and there is an abundant lack of data from opponents of vaccination that they are causing any problems. Speculation about vaccines being linked to autism is just that: speculation. And the benefits of vaccination far outweigh a speculative risk (polio anyone?). Sure, more people are being vaccinated than ever, but there are many many other things that we are in contact with now more than ever as well, and any may be a contributing factor… Pollution, prescription meds, cleaning chemicals, antibiotics, new bacteria and microbes, female suffrage (kidding). There are so many things out there that could potentially be linked to autism or cancer rates that it may be impossible to tell for sure if any are proximate causes.

Also, take into account the fact that autism awareness plays a very significant role in that 1 in 50 statistic. "While government researchers admitted they cannot be certain of the reasons behind the upward trend in numbers of children parents report as having been diagnosed with autism, they concluded that better testing methods, changes in diagnostic services and increased awareness of ASD among parents, educators and health care professionals probably explain the striking rise in autism prevalence."

http://www.nvic.org/NVIC-Vaccine-Ne...s-1-in-50-American-Children-Diagnosed-wi.aspx

The article does conclude that there is an increase in autism, but that is in part explainable by increased awareness and better testing.
 
Robb said:
I think that's situational dependent. If you're using every single night and it's the only thing hold in you together than yes, I agree, there's a problem.

If you're using recreationally/socially, every now and again I don't see an issue.
Click to expand...

I disagree...if you are using it to deal with the stress of your job, then it's a problem. I'm not even going to discuss the recreational/social aspects of it.
 
TheLocalMedic said:
Tigger, you're absolutely right about smoking being unhealthy in general. Inhaling heated gas and particulates isn't good for you.

As for not touching the vaccine comment… May I? Vaccines DO NOT cause autism, and I still have no idea where the SIDS reference came from. Yes, autism is on the rise, but there is NO evidence that vaccines are in any way responsible. Yes, there are preservatives and various chemicals present in vaccines that are "bad" for you, but they are present in very small amounts and there is an abundant lack of data from opponents of vaccination that they are causing any problems. Speculation about vaccines being linked to autism is just that: speculation. And the benefits of vaccination far outweigh a speculative risk (polio anyone?). Sure, more people are being vaccinated than ever, but there are many many other things that we are in contact with now more than ever as well, and any may be a contributing factor… Pollution, prescription meds, cleaning chemicals, antibiotics, new bacteria and microbes, female suffrage (kidding). There are so many things out there that could potentially be linked to autism or cancer rates that it may be impossible to tell for sure if any are proximate causes.

Also, take into account the fact that autism awareness plays a very significant role in that 1 in 50 statistic. "While government researchers admitted they cannot be certain of the reasons behind the upward trend in numbers of children parents report as having been diagnosed with autism, they concluded that better testing methods, changes in diagnostic services and increased awareness of ASD among parents, educators and health care professionals probably explain the striking rise in autism prevalence."

http://www.nvic.org/NVIC-Vaccine-Ne...s-1-in-50-American-Children-Diagnosed-wi.aspx

The article does conclude that there is an increase in autism, but that is in part explainable by increased awareness and better testing.
Click to expand...

A Round of applause.

there is a million different aspects that could cause autism increases these days vs. just vaccinating your children.

I met tons of "flower power" parents who insist that vaccinating your children is no good. Umm.. Small pox and polio have both been practically eradicated, I haven't heard of a good case of Mumps in forever. shall we?

Vaccination has become the target for holistic medicine and the hippies. Yet we seem to forget that theres probably more hazardous materials in your own home these days vs. what there was 20 years ago. The research to prove Autism and other Mental health disorders has significantly improved since the hey day. Needless to say 30 years ago if your kid appeared as ADHD or Autistic the answer was to beat them. that they were lazy, unintelligent drooling mouth breathers. Now we have the means to prove that kids do have mental health issues and can test much earlier to provide a success track and support services to provide a much more functional or fufillinglife.
 
ffemt8978 said:
I disagree...if you are using it to deal with the stress of your job, then it's a problem. I'm not even going to discuss the recreational/social aspects of it.
Click to expand...


That's fine, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. This thread is about all aspects of marijuana use by EMS professionals though, not just those using it to "wind down" after work.

Periodic use even if it's stress related is not a problem in my eyes. If you can't function without smoking a bowl or have to have it when you come home or you don't sleep that's a problem.

How many people have had a really rough day at work, gone home and had a beer or cocktail? I'm not talking about getting blasted in talking about one drink. I know I have and I know I do not have a problem either. I don't drink every day, I don't need alcohol to cope. If someone wants to go home and indulge responsibly in a legal substance why does that automatically mean they have a problem?
 
Robb said:
That's fine, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. This thread is about all aspects of marijuana use by EMS professionals though, not just those using it to "wind down" after work.

Periodic use even if it's stress related is not a problem in my eyes. If you can't function without smoking a bowl or have to have it when you come home or you don't sleep that's a problem.

How many people have had a really rough day at work, gone home and had a beer or cocktail? I'm not talking about getting blasted in talking about one drink. I know I have and I know I do not have a problem either. I don't drink every day, I don't need alcohol to cope. If someone wants to go home and indulge responsibly in a legal substance why does that automatically mean they have a problem?
Click to expand...

Except that it is still an illegal substance a) in 48 other states, and b) at the federal level. Just because this administration has said they won't prosecute cases in those two states does not mean that the next administration will refuse to prosecute them also.

Yes, this is a generalized discussion on the impact of "legalized" marijuana use on EMS but I don't feel like discussing the whole thing. Others here will offer their opinions on various aspects of it, but the stress relief factor is what I wanted to discuss.

But if you feel periodic use is okay, then let me ask you this:

At what level of THC in a person's system should they not be allowed to work or drive, or have patient care, and what is that level based on?

Have there been any studies that show how long it takes the body to process the THC and remove it from the system?

What level of THC affects a person's judgement, and how long after smoking does the body return to THC levels that do not affect judgement?
 
ffemt8978 said:
Except that it is still an illegal substance a) in 48 other states, and b) at the federal level. Just because this administration has said they won't prosecute cases in those two states does not mean that the next administration will refuse to prosecute them also.

Yes, this is a generalized discussion on the impact of "legalized" marijuana use on EMS but I don't feel like discussing the whole thing. Others here will offer their opinions on various aspects of it, but the stress relief factor is what I wanted to discuss.

But if you feel periodic use is okay, then let me ask you this:

At what level of THC in a person's system should they not be allowed to work or drive, or have patient care, and what is that level based on?

Have there been any studies that show how long it takes the body to process the THC and remove it from the system?

What level of THC affects a person's judgement, and how long after smoking does the body return to THC levels that do not affect judgement?
Click to expand...

This is what I want to know. Where alcohol a person is classified as legally intoxicated at 0.08 and is impaired and cannot legally operate a motor vehicle.

Where as alcohol the gold standard is 1 alcoholic beverage = 1 hour to be processed through your system. Of course this is a average as I may process a alcoholic beverage in 20 minutes vs. someone elses 2.5 hours.

Where as THC we don't have a standard to follow to decide what the time for THC to be processed through the body and no longer impairs the user. Naturally as marijuana comes in various strengths and measures. So what is the measure of the equivalence to 1 alcoholic drink. will it be measured in grams, or Pipefulls, the size of a average "joint" or what have you.

If it does become a legalized product the people who chose to use it, need a standard to follow by
 
There is some excellent research and speculation out there that Marijuana legalization will save a large number of lives as it becomes a substitute product for tobacco. One or two blunts a day is exponentially less damaging to your lungs then a pack of cigs. There is a pretty good feeling among economist that Lung Cancer rates as well as blood pressure problems associated with nicotine use..etc..etc...will drop rapidly after the legalization of marijuana.


I am all for it being legalized but I am also for private corporations retaining the right to refuse employment and fire people who use it period...
 
unleashedfury said:
This is what I want to know. Where alcohol a person is classified as legally intoxicated at 0.08 and is impaired and cannot legally operate a motor vehicle.
Click to expand...

Perhaps we should have the government set the acceptable level of THC the same way they did the BAC level: completely, 100% arbitrarily.

Just pick a number and put it into law.
 
ffemt8978 said:
But if you feel periodic use is okay, then let me ask you this:

At what level of THC in a person's system should they not be allowed to work or drive, or have patient care, and what is that level based on?

Have there been any studies that show how long it takes the body to process the THC and remove it from the system?

What level of THC affects a person's judgement, and how long after smoking does the body return to THC levels that do not affect judgement?
Click to expand...

Well considering that we still can't answer those questions about alcohol, I'm not sure why it's so important to have the "acceptable level" of THC nailed down, especially considering the fact that it is so rarely implicated in accidents that affect others.
 
Halothane said:
Well considering that we still can't answer those questions about alcohol, I'm not sure why it's so important to have the "acceptable level" of THC nailed down, especially considering the fact that it is so rarely implicated in accidents that affect others.
Click to expand...

Maybe the rarity of accidents has to do with it's rarity of being present during patient care - possibly due to it being illegal.

However, with the legalization in two states, it is something that is going to become more common. If THC affects a person's judgement, then it will eventually end up affecting patient care.
 
To the original question, I think legalization will have absolutely minimal impact on EMS and on the healthcare system overall.

THC intoxication generally doesn't result in violent or destructive or risky behavior. THC "overdoses" are practically non-existent. Long term health effects are probably possible, but are likely much less than what follows the use of other common drugs. THC interacts minimally with other drugs, though it can potentiate sedative affects of benzos and other tranquilizers.

I don't think we'll even see a dramatic increase in the number of people using it. Most people who are inclined to use it already do.
 
Halothane said:
To the original question, I think legalization will have absolutely minimal impact on EMS and on the healthcare system overall.

THC intoxication generally doesn't result in violent or destructive or risky behavior. THC "overdoses" are practically non-existent. Long term health effects are probably possible, but are likely much less than what follows the use of other common drugs. THC interacts minimally with other drugs, though it can potentiate sedative affects of benzos and other tranquilizers.

I don't think we'll even see a dramatic increase in the number of people using it. Most people who are inclined to use it already do.
Click to expand...

I would agree with this statement provided it is not the EMS providers using it.
 
ffemt8978 said:
I would agree with this statement provided it is not the EMS providers using it.
Click to expand...

Why shouldn't off-duty EMS providers use a legal and largely harmless substance?

Do EMS providers have fewer rights than non-EMS providers?

Do you think EMS providers should be disallowed from consuming alcohol, as well?
 
Halothane said:
Why shouldn't off-duty EMS providers use a legal and largely harmless substance?

Do EMS providers have fewer rights than non-EMS providers?

Do you think EMS providers should be disallowed from consuming alcohol, as well?
Click to expand...

Show me data that says approximately how long it takes THC to no longer affect a person or how long it takes to metabolize and we can discuss it. Alcohol has a relatively know rate of being metabolized by the body, and there are limits to what is tolerated in your system while at work. Also, alcohol has a relatively known effect on judgement and motor abilities. Can the same be said of THC?

And don't our patients have the right to be treated by somebody who is not under the influence of anything?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top