Impact of Legalized Recreational Marijuana on EMS?

I would presume most EMS agencies will have a zero tolerance policy in place. One could only imagine the liability and legal issues if an occurrence happened and an employee had positive history.

Although, it may be legal within the state (alike concealed weapon, medication(s) etc); policies will deem the approval.

R/r 911
 
Until marijuana is legalized federally and there is an accurate test to test for acute intoxication, which they're getting a lot closer too with the swab tests, no EMS agency will allow employees to smoke marijuana on their time off

Marijuana is a schedule one drug according to the federal government. Federal government trumps the state government.
 
Robb said:
Until marijuana is legalized federally and there is an accurate test to test for acute intoxication, which they're getting a lot closer too with the swab tests, no EMS agency will allow employees to smoke marijuana on their time off

Marijuana is a schedule one drug according to the federal government. Federal government trumps the state government.
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Agreed, but from what I gather the Swab test can be manipulated by brushing your teeth.. how true is this.. Hell if I know. But I remember our random drug tests when from Swab test to urinalysis after they were told the swab test is not as accurate as other means.
 
unleashedfury said:
Agreed, but from what I gather the Swab test can be manipulated by brushing your teeth.. how true is this.. Hell if I know. But I remember our random drug tests when from Swab test to urinalysis after they were told the swab test is not as accurate as other means.
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Swab tests are designed to test for recent use. You're right they aren't the most accurate but they're getting better. From what I've seen they actually are pretty tough to get past lately. One of those, "you've gotta get lucky" things.

I have my own beliefs on marijuana but until it's legalized federally and there's no possibility of threatening my employment there's no way I'm risking my livelihood for a night of fun. Kinda funny to read some of the responses in this thread.

Really shows how misrepresented marijuana has been in our culture in the past.
 
Robb said:
Swab tests are designed to test for recent use. You're right they aren't the most accurate but they're getting better. From what I've seen they actually are pretty tough to get past lately. One of those, "you've gotta get lucky" things.

I have my own beliefs on marijuana but until it's legalized federally and there's no possibility of threatening my employment there's no way I'm risking my livelihood for a night of fun. Kinda funny to read some of the responses in this thread.

Really shows how misrepresented marijuana has been in our culture in the past.
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I'll be frankly honest I tried and did some questionable things in my hey day, but I grew up. And when I was a Team Leader at my old car dealership my one tech was a smoker, I just told him what you do on your own time is your business, As long as you don't show up on my time under the influence I don't care.
 
We need more people like Robb and Unleashed.
So MANY people especially the older generation are still being misleaded about weed, it's unbelievable.

Screw the government, they're so corrupted, it's not even funny.
 
Golden Eye said:
We need more people like Robb and Unleashed.
So MANY people especially the older generation are still being misleaded about weed, it's unbelievable.

Screw the government, they're so corrupted, it's not even funny.
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Have you seen the national polls? There are a lot of Unleashes and Robbs.
 
SandpitMedic said:
Have you seen the national polls? There are a lot of Unleashes and Robbs.
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I heard that California may be the next to legalize it. And I'm awfully surprised we weren't the first. Gotta be all those OC republicans tipping the scales… <_<
 
I am impartial. I don't really like getting high, nor do I shun others who may enjoy it. With weed I mean.

I believe in due time we will teach our children about the prohibition era of weed as we do the prohibition era of alcohol currently. And soon like in the next 4-6 years. By 2020.... Wow that is really weird to say and think about....
Sorry ... by 2020 I think weed will have been legalized by all states and the federal govt, perhaps sooner.
 
I also heard Cali is next, and I am as surprised as you that the state that brought us Sublime and Snoop Dogg will be 3rd to legalize it.
 
Here's how I imagine it going down in California…

It gets legalized in the state.

Big tobacco companies like Phillip Morris and RJ Reynolds will buy up large tracts of land in the central valley and plant big areas of marijuana crops.

This mass produced marijuana will have a pretty uniform and (as the pot snobs, not too far removed from wine snobs, would say) par or sub-par quality.

This will create a marketplace where we have the cheaper, lower quality marijuana products and a premium market where the specially cultivated, smaller crops will still ask a premium price.

The state will rake in a pretty huge tax on all the product sold. And the range of products will be large, including all the various forms of the product and accessories.

Other states will see the profit and push legalization soon after.

$$$ Profit $$$
 
SandpitMedic said:
I am impartial. I don't really like getting high, nor do I shun others who may enjoy it. With weed I mean.

I believe in due time we will teach our children about the prohibition era of weed as we do the prohibition era of alcohol currently. And soon like in the next 4-6 years. By 2020.... Wow that is really weird to say and think about....
Sorry ... by 2020 I think weed will have been legalized by all states and the federal govt, perhaps sooner.
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That's what I believe. I mean growing up if you would have told me marijuana would be legal I would have laughed at you and said Yeah Right!!

But history has proven one thing. In the prohibition days, speakeasies and moonshining where of the pleather, alcohol funded organized crime. Some believe the end of prohibition helped build a economy out of the great depression. Increasing jobs, and revenue. Of course there may still be areas of employment or religious groups that will prohibit marijuana just as those who have you refrain from alcohol.

I strongly believe that Marijuana will be subjected to legalization, for 2 reasons.
1. Widespread use, and the means to enforce marijuana laws is limited. The means to arrest, arraign, and house offenders is costly, and overwhelms the justice system for people who may have a small amount of marijuana present.
2. Economic favorability, If the federal govt. legalizes marijuana use for recreation, State and federal taxes may be placed on it. Employment will increase as they'll need farmers, manufacturers and distributors. Of course if they are going to offer a premium blend and a generic blend. they will need salesperson and representatives just like a tobacco company.

as far as the "addiction factors" its a psychological thing. I know people who cant go through a day without having THC, Just like cigarettes being a Psychological thing and nicotine. If you don't have either or one or the other, misery, edgy and anxiety tends to be present.
 
TheLocalMedic said:
It'll be REEFER MADNESS!!! :roll eyes:

In all seriousness though, I think you're using a poor slippery slope argument. Does alcohol automatically lead to abusing prescription medication? Does watching violent movies lead to beating your wife?

There are many many people who use pot quietly and responsibly, and that number grows by the day. Sure, there's also a lot of rampant drug abuse going on, but addicts are going after stuff a bit harder than pot, and marijuana doesn't exactly pose the same health risks as other drugs. It could even be argued that pot is a fair sight healthier than using alcohol.
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Speaking from experience in a jail. No, one drug does not always lead to worse ones. And if weed is legal there is supposedly a lowered chance they will be running into hard characters like they do now. While the majority of weed smokers do not go on to hard drugs (I accept this on faith), the VAST majority of hard drug users did and do smoke weed because they are mostly polychemical abusers if opportunity and money allow it.

Pharmaceutically speaking, alcohol and weed are apples and oranges. Alcohol is a bad substance for many people and good for none, in reality. Weed is too but it lacks some of the more active aspects of inhibition blocking alcohol does. Once we get legalized pot, we can start studies of its effects on the human brain and user's psychosocial standing we can't do as is.

Smoking anything is silly, what with inhaling micro soot and combustion gasses, dirty ashtrays (that smell like bad socks), increase likelihood of fires starting, etc.
 
SandpitMedic said:
I am impartial. I don't really like getting high, nor do I shun others who may enjoy it. With weed I mean.

I believe in due time we will teach our children about the prohibition era of weed as we do the prohibition era of alcohol currently. And soon like in the next 4-6 years. By 2020.... Wow that is really weird to say and think about....
Sorry ... by 2020 I think weed will have been legalized by all states and the federal govt, perhaps sooner.
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I read the other day that with the current rate that MMJ is progressing that it will be around 2030. I'll try to find that again.

mycrofft said:
Speaking from experience in a jail. No, one drug does not always lead to worse ones. And if weed is legal there is supposedly a lowered chance they will be running into hard characters like they do now. While the majority of weed smokers do not go on to hard drugs (I accept this on faith), the VAST majority of hard drug users did and do smoke weed because they are mostly polychemical abusers if opportunity and money allow it.

Pharmaceutically speaking, alcohol and weed are apples and oranges. Alcohol is a bad substance for many people and good for none, in reality. Weed is too but it lacks some of the more active aspects of inhibition blocking alcohol does. Once we get legalized pot, we can start studies of its effects on the human brain and user's psychosocial standing we can't do as is.

Smoking anything is silly, what with inhaling micro soot and combustion gasses, dirty ashtrays (that smell like bad socks), increase likelihood of fires starting, etc.
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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/08/...s-gateway-effect-much-larger-than-marijuanas/
http://scienceblog.com/12116/study-says-marijuana-no-gateway-drug/
There's your gateway drug theory presumption backed up somewhat.
I think the bigger reason of it is the black market enforces the behavior. I can't tell you how many times I picked up from people when I was younger that I didn't know too well and got offered coke, ecstasy (common) and even heroin once.

I didn't quite understand your second point, but am I reading right that you think mmj is good for no one?

To your last point, have you not noticed how popular vapes are getting? Those little pens people inhale smoke out of? Yeah, those can be filled with what is called tincture and oils for the liquid ones. Or shatter for the solid vapes. People will always smoke, but this is the generation where technology absorbs our lives. The more techy you are, the more props you get. Even edibles are getting pretty popular. I remember my uncle a couple years back bringing back a lollipop from a dispensary one time and that was his preferred method after.
 
I honestly feel they should change the law and let us smoke on our downtime only.
There's too many things going on (911) and after our shift, it would be great to just relax in bed and smoke and not have to worry about anything.

But for people who abuses it and smokes while they're on their job, they should be fired and not get hired back to any companies. They should make adult choices and not be stupid when they have a duty to perform while on their shift.

This is my opinion. I know many will disagree upon, but idc.
 
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?
 
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?
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True, but just to play devils advocate - what is the difference between someone using delta 9 THC compared to someone using ETOH to "relax" off duty.

Both cause impairment, both may be ok if off duty and this impairment is not an issue (no work soon or no driving) and both have dose dependent risks, although likely a lot less with THC.

Both can also cause psychological dependence, etoh can also cause physical dependence. Both may be either used occasionally or abused.
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Fyi for the record i DO NOT and never have used drugs.
 
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unleashedfury said:
I assume you just get suspicious if you see your partrner carrying visine, and has a lunchbox full of snacks.
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Well bugger, I just noted in another thread that I in fact do carry a bag with some eyedrops and snacks in it...

I better keep my eyes out for the narcs now.
 
DEmedic said:
Relax in bed and smoke? Seriously?
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So drinking alcohol and popping pills is fine, but smoking or injesting marijuana is looked down upon? Lol.

If you ever did your research about why mairijuana was banned, you would know it saves lifes, but the big pharmaceutical companies doesn't want that because they already make billions using us as test experiments already and still do til' this day with their so called "vaccines" which contains so much toxic chemicals you woul be surprised what's in it. No wonder autism rate has skyrocketed the past year and so called SIDS. In the 1983, only 1 in 10,000 children had autism, now in 2013, it's 1 in 50. And you guys also noticed that cancer rate has gone up with different new kind of diseases? I'm surprised still at how many people still trust our government til this day. They're so corrupt and you wouldn't even know it until you do your research. So yeah, keep popping pills and eat your GMO foods while I stick to organic and natural remedies.

I don't smoke anymore, but I used to when I was a teenager. I'm just sick of people still acting like sheeps and still falling for the marijuana propaganda. Same with pills, vaccines, and GMO foods.

I know I went off topic a little, but whatever.
 
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