Rastafari nurse and marijuana use

I hope I don't start any arguments/debates with this....if so, please feel more than welcome to delete!
I have a friend who is in the first year of nursing school(finished pre-reqs and is in the junior year).
She is originally from Jamaica and she is Rastafarian. Now that she is has been accepted in the nursing program, I had to ask her a question.
As part of her religion and culture, she smokes marijuana, and she says it is part of the way she lives, just like other traditions she adheres to.

We had a discussion regarding this and her future employment possibilities.
She told me that since this was part of her religion, that no employer could discriminate against her. I told her that most(if not all I've seen) nursing jobs have some statement about being "drug free" or a "drug free workplace".
So now we're both wondering- can they not hire/fire her for something that is part of her culture/lifestyle/religion?
She has told me that even though she has is in the program, that she would in no way change her beliefs for a profession. So I don't really have any information for her on the subject, and thought someone on here may- any Rastafari nurses out there or have any input?

Thanks!
I may be wrong, but is wine not a big part of the Catholic practices? This does not give a Catholic nurse permission to come to work with alcohol in her system.

don't know any rastafari nurses however, i don't think any company will hire her with drugs in her system. i believe the drug testing comes with a waiver and if she signs the waiver she's agreeing to the policy therefore forefeiting the religious aspect of it.

It isn't just the policy of facilities, it's the BONs of each state. No BON will allow a nurse to work with drugs in his/her system.

I told her something somewhat similar to that, and her response was something along the lines of..."If I had marijuana in my system it could have been from 4 days or 2 weeks or longer ago, and of course I would not use at work"I told her that her employer would have NO idea when she used last- and therefor it would probably not be a very cool idea lol. It just seems odd that she would have to change a practice of her lifestyle for her job, but on the other hand it makes sense as well. Thanks for the input!

Tazzi-That's exactly the response we were looking for- something from the BON, and official, not just opinions like hers, or mine. Thanks a ton!

since you were seeking something official, why ask here and not seek info from your state's bon?Quote from ncriverrattazzi-that's exactly the response we were looking for- something from the bon, and official, not just opinions like hers, or mine. thanks a ton!

positive drug screens for illicit substances

What world is she living in that makes her feel that just by her religious preference that she can use marijuana, which is still illegal in the US to my knowledge. If that was the case, everyone who knew they were going to fail drug tests would use that excuse. Besides that, who would want a nurse high on marijuana taking care of them anyway??Tell her that she is wasting her time going through nursing school if she honestly thinks that excuse will work.

In the military, native american tribal members are allowed to take permissive leave for using peyote (an illegal drug) during ceremonies.That is from the 1994 American Indian Religious Freedom Act. They are also exempt from answering if they have taken drugs or not when they enlist. If they are tested any other time and have peyote in their system without prior authorization they get in trouble. As everyone knows anyone can hold any job in the military so they can be doctors, lawyers, nurses, etc. and are allowed to do this. I honestly wouldn't want a doctor or nurse who was under the influence. But if for religious purposes it should be watched as in they must take vacation days for at least 30 days from the time they used it so that way when they get tested they are clean and ONLY for religious purposes.

I doubt she could make it through any nursing program, let alone get licensed as an RN. Don't most nursing programs test for drugs?

If this nurse was allowed to work with marijuana for cultural/religious reasons I'm sure there woulwd be an influx of new Rastafarian nurses who were previously non-Rastafarian. It seems like a way to have a shortcut to the illegal nature of this drug in the US acceptable in the public setting.This practice may be something she will have to rethink in the near future. Either she could return to her native country or to a country that is accepting of marijuana use in it's nurses OR she could abstain as work as a nurse in the US OR she might be denied because once again, marijuana is illegal in the US.I most certaintly would not want a nurse working on me with any drugs or alcohol or other mind-altering substances in their system.

This may sound mean, but my line of thinking is: If you want to use Marijuana for religious/cultural reasons, then don't move to a country like America- where it's illegal- if you plan on continuing to use it And don't get a job taking care of patients, for Pete's sake. She'll find out soon enough when she doesn't get any nursing jobs because of her positive drug tests. Unfortunately, she sounds like an addict justifying her actions.