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Nurses and cannabis use: Ethical and legal concerns
1Carey S. Cadieux is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY.
Abstract:
Cannabis use by nurses puts their professional license at risk, even if cannabis is consumed during off-work hours in US states where cannabis is legal for adult use. As states move out of the cannabis prohibition era and into an era of cannabis regulation, it becomes important to consider the ethical implications of nurses' cannabis use. This article explores the ethical concerns with nurses' use of cannabis during off-work hours and the implications for their licensure. Autonomy, beneficence, and social justice issues are considered. Despite state cannabis laws, nurses must advocate for the protection of their licenses, given that cannabis remains a federally illegal substance.
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