Passing Drug Employment Screening from Legal Drugs

[Here Then Gone]

So, I'm a long-time user of CBD and Delta-8 products which are legal to have and use in the area I live (Upper Midwest USA) and have been since the passing of the federal Farm Bill in 2018. I use these products because they have greatly decreased my anxiety and depression with little side effects compared to other things. The issue with this is the outdated and inaccurate testing that is involved with new hire drug screening tests, because as with any THC substance depending on personal metabolism, usage, and amount it can be in your system for up to a month, even if you are not currently under the influence of them. And this will cause you to fail a urine test every time, which I find to be unfair.

At this point in my life, I use these products not as recreation but as a proven source of medication that is working well at stopping me from self-harming activities. I have not yet brought this up with my doctor (out of fear of judgement) but probably should get their opinion. I just find it annoying that I cannot get hired at a job for using a legal product that does not hinder or affect my ability to do my job, just because of outdated testing or stigma. Legal alcohol, tobacco, or other substances/anti-depressants are not affected by this, yet the legal THC or CBD products are. In general, the United States has a real problem with outdated stigmas involving THC but not with other much more harmful substances such as tobacco or alcohol. In my local state for example, everything revolves around alcohol here and the serious issue of drinking and driving is often overlooked because it is a staple of society, and probably the $ behind it. Yet if you mention using THC products for mental health issues, some people look at and treat you like a nasty, drug using person, who is lazy or untrustworthy when that view really isn't fair.

I'm aware of current laws with employers and understand the screening to a point when the job requires use of dangerous machinery or driving. But how is it fair to be passed for a job based on a legal product in your bloodstream that you are currently not under the influence of from something you took days ago? The test should determine if you are under the influence of it right now, just like any other substance, not just because it's still in your system. Also at this point in my life, I will stop using temporarily if I have to do so to get hired and have an income, but I'm still going to live my life and go back to a useful product as soon as I can which just seems like another pointless hoop to jump through. Has anyone dealt with this situation or have some advice? My state does not have legal medical THC cards (even though all the surrounding states do.)

 

[AlopexAngel]

Unfortunately, most companies using drug tests are complying with federal law, and under federal law, marijuana products are still illegal. If you really can't go without until the metabolites are out of your system, you will likely have to fight any employer that requires a test.

 

[Gonz]

I tend to agree with you (what danger does pot present when you work as a baker or waiter? And yet I didn’t have to take a test when I was a trucker. Make that make sense.) but your only option, as far as I can see, is to stop smoking until you pass the drug screening, then go back to it.

But, on the bright side, more employers are forgoing pre-employment drug testing. That is certainly less common in your state, but I’m willing to bet that it’s easier to find than even ten years ago.

That said, the legality of the drug won’t protect anyone (even in a legal state) if they decides to test. It’s entirely at their discretion to hire or not, based on that. It’s just that, in legal states, it can be hard to fill positions if employers are too persnickety about it.

 

[Here Then Gone]

Unfortunately, most companies using drug tests are complying with federal law, and under federal law, marijuana products are still illegal. If you really can't go without until the metabolites are out of your system, you will likely have to fight any employer that requires a test.

Thanks for the reply. I can go (probably) without long enough to be clean if I have to, it's just going to suck and there really is no point applying to jobs that test in the meantime, which means going longer without another paycheck. It is what it is though.

 

[Here Then Gone]

but I’m willing to bet that it’s easier to find than even ten years ago.

It is you're right, the tide is slowly turning (very slowly in my state) but it is turning as society shifts its perspective. There's a huge divide going on right now where everything closer to more highly populated areas which tend to be politically blue are more friendly and major corporations such as Amazon delivery jobs don't test. Whereas the more rural you go tend to be politically red and that's where the testing and stigma still exist. Also company desperation for workers matters too, as the last job I applied for tested me and I failed, but they let me work there anyway I'm guessing because they either really liked me or needed workers badly.

This is part of a bigger problem where many people are going to be affected later this year because of the Mcconnell bill that was passed during the last government shutdown which basically reverses the loophole in the 2018 farm bill for now legal products such as these at the federal level. On Nov, 12 2026 it will be federally illegal to have these products again and many people who rely on these to cope for various reasons will have to find another way. Many will probably go towards illegal methods unfortunately because they'll have no choice unless something happens to change that which I don't see happening right now. I'm trying to choose my words carefully and not start a political debate, I just want to inform others who may be affected of what's going on.

 

[may71]

If you try going without, there may be some other treatment methods that could help get you through.

These links have some info:

Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture, World's Second Largest Medical System

Self-Treatment and Miscellaneous

In principle you could apply for a job and explain to them the test issue, and they might be willing to hire you even if you fail. It's just that if they really do care about your test results being 100% clean, then you're guaranteed not to get that job.

 

[Here Then Gone]

If you try going without, there may be some other treatment methods that could help get you through.

These links have some info:

Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture, World's Second Largest Medical System

Self-Treatment and Miscellaneous

In principle you could apply for a job and explain to them the test issue, and they might be willing to hire you even if you fail. It's just that if they really do care about your test results being 100% clean, then you're guaranteed not to get that job.

Thanks for the info. My last job actually hired me even though I failed the test for THC after I explained the situation, so yes some people may understand.

 

[Shinzon1]

My state does not have legal medical THC cards (even though all the surrounding states do.)

If your living where I think you are based of this statement you basically have 2 options. 1. Trades working under small businesses(there is a reason people recommend to certain groups of people). 2. Staffing agencies. Staffing agencies usually will drug test you but with give you the oral swab which only detect up to three days.

There some overly complicated ways to cheat the piss test that I don't recommend but really it's isn't worth it.

 

[Harmony]

I'd also try to find out if they do random screenings after you are hired seeing as you plan to go back to using for help w/ depression/anxiety.

 

[LumberJack]

Pre-employment drug screenings are not about fairness or safety. If the company has federal contracts, they have to test as a stipulation in those contracts. It’s not about figuring out whether you are intoxicated in that moment.

It’s just a box the company has to tick to keep the federal government as a customer. Since the federal government tends to be a very large customer of a given private enterprise, the former has a lot of weight to throw around as far as telling vendors how to run their businesses.

I had to pass a pre-employment drug screening for every job, until I didn’t. I had the opportunity to ask an HR rep about it, and that was the answer. Businesses are about profits, and drug screening is expensive. If there’s not a truly safety related task in the position, and the company still tests as a condition of employment, then it comes down to whether keeping the federal government as a customer conveys a greater financial benefit than the cost of dealing with a testing company.

 

[LumberJack]

My guess is that Amazon gets away with not testing through their intricate system of subcontracts. The person wearing an Amazon shirt dropping off your package is a subcontractor and not directly employed by Amazon. I can only guess, but I imagine that they use subcontractors to insulate themselves from liability with regard to their work practices, but it also would give them an out with respect to drug screening requirements.

 

[Here Then Gone]

I took a job at a pizza place because they don't drug test. They offer health insurance, of course it's very expensive and cheaper if I pay out of pocket for meds for now. Any emergency situation I'm screwed.

The thing that hurts the most is I can't tell my own family about my relying on THCA products to cope with my mental health, because I'll be looked at as a dirty, loser, drug using person. My mother would probably say something like, "So THAT'S what's causing your brain to not work right." when it's the thing that's been helping me cope since 2018. If my loser state I live in would just have medical marijuana, I would say I should easily qualify for that, but they don't. Now some douche bags are going to take it away in November, and I'll need to find a solution next year. If I want to stay living, that is.

 

[CrossedSeas]

Just want to say I hear you! I’m honestly wondering now if we live in the same state. What you’re saying sounds VERY familiar.

I’ve been wanting to try CBD because I’ve seen some solid evidence it could help my mental health condition, but dang, I’m too afraid to try while job hunting. Which is ironic, because if my mental health was better controlled, it would be so much dang easier to work.

In short, concurring on that need for medical marijuana.

Also honoring that it’s hard to when you know you can’t talk about something without being judged or misunderstood, especially by family.

 

[LumberJack]

I’ve been wanting to try CBD because I’ve seen some solid evidence it could help my mental health condition, but dang, I’m too afraid to try while job hunting. Which is ironic, because if my mental health was better controlled, it would be so much dang easier to work.

Sorry, I had some bad info which I noticed after double checking. CBD is pretty risky for having potentially detectable amounts of THC.

 

[CrossedSeas]

Sorry, I had some bad info which I noticed after double checking. CBD is pretty risky for having potentially detectable amounts of THC.

No need to apologize! I feel like we’re all still learning.

That’s what I was finding and learning too when I started to look into CBD. I was really disappointed to learn there was still potentially some THC in it.