Last updated: September 25, 2023
It probably won’t surprise you to hear that some people are unhappy with the fact that we conduct workplace drug testing. They often feel this way because they don’t really understand drugs, drug use, employer’s rights, or even their own rights. Many don’t understand the affects that drug use has, not only on themselves, but also on workplace productivity and the safety of everyone around them. Some feel like they should be able to do whatever they want regardless of the impact their drug use has on others.
One recent example is a letter we received from a gentleman by the name of Matt. While we disagree with the premise of his letter, we applaud Matt’s dialog, because he appears to be expressing his genuine beliefs in a calm and rational manner. This is in stark contrast to most of the correspondence we receive from the pro-drug crowd.
Because of Matt’s genuine approach, we’ve decided to publish an open letter in response. Hopefully this will clear up some of the misconceptions that he and others in the pro-drug crowd have about drug testing. I’ll publish his letter in its entirety below, and then I’ll respond, section by section, below that.
I have an issue with urinalysis screens. The only substance that they reliably and consistently detect is the THC-COOH metabolite, even for very light users. People who are doing hard drugs like cocaine, heroin, meth, etc., can wait it out and pass with flying colors, but because of THC’s fat solubility it remains in the system for an extraordinary amount of time.
Of all the substances that a 5 panel or 11 panel UA test for, THC is the LEAST damaging as far as physical health and is also the least likely to cause workplace or personal problems. With more states pushing toward decriminalization or outright legalization, do you foresee a time when the drug-testing industry will outright stop testing for cannabis use? Alcohol and tobacco are proven to cause far more major substance abuse issues, yet they remain legal and are RARELY tested for.
I have witnessed people’s lives get ruined because of a THC-COOH positive result. One of my friends ceased using for 4 months because he knew a pre-employment screen was coming. He kept testing every day about 10 days before the UA and tested negative using both the home kits as well as a comprehensive GCMS screen from Quest Diagnostics.
Then, the week before the UA, he started exercising as part of a workout routine to lose some some weight. He then failed the UA because burning fat cells released the THC-COOH metabolite back into his system. A GCMS test was initiated to re-test the sample, and he still failed despite the adjusted detection cut-off. He lost a very promising career due to casual and responsible use of cannabis. This is someone who never drank, smoked cigarettes, or consumed any other substances who is married, has children, and has never been in trouble with the law.I’m not completely against drug screens. They certainly play a crucial role for employers who suspect an employee is using on the job or showing up to work under the influence, and thus becomes a liability. The majority of cannabis users are responsible and productive employees, students, husbands, wives, and parents. If a GCMS test can detect metabolites from 3 months prior simply due to body fat breaking down and releasing THC-COOH back into their system, the test simply is not an accurate representation of current use. Follicle testing also has detection inconsistencies.
Has your company noticed any trends in the people who test positive ONLY for cannabis use? Are they similar in appearance, disposition, and lifestyle to those using hard drugs? Do they strike you as criminals who deserve to have their lives ruined? I’m not asking out of spite, I honestly want the view from the other side of the issue. As a company that administers these tests regularly, you must surely notice certain trends and personality profiles for people that need to undergo testing.
Thanks for your time,
Matt
Now on to my responses to the various sections of Matt’s letter:
I have an issue with urinalysis screens. The only substance that they reliably and consistently detect is the THC-COOH metabolite, even for very light users. People who are doing hard drugs like cocaine, heroin, meth, etc., can wait it out and pass with flying colors, but because of THC’s fat solubility it remains in the system for an extraordinary amount of time.
It’s true that drug tests can consistently detect marijuana use, even for light users, which is exactly what they are supposed to do. Employers want to ensure that drug use is identified so that they can eliminate it and create a safer working environment. Think about it like this—if you were flying somewhere, would you still board the aircraft knowing your pilot only took a few puffs from a joint before hopping in the cockpit? Of course not, because you know that it affects memory, judgement, reaction time, and coordination.
As for your assertion that people using other, harder drugs, pass with flying colors—that’s simply not true. We catch these type of drug users every day. It’s true that some drugs do have a slightly shorter detection window compared to marijuana (and some drugs have a longer detection window), but employees don’t have the option to “wait it out” because skipping or delaying the drug test is typically treated the same as testing positive.
Of all the substances that a 5 or 11 panel UA test for, THC is the LEAST damaging as far as physical health and is also the least likely to cause workplace or personal problems. With more states pushing toward decriminalization or outright legalization, do you foresee a time when the drug-testing industry will outright stop testing for cannabis use? Alcohol and tobacco are proven to cause far more major substance abuse issues, yet they remain legal and are RARELY tested for.
There is plenty of evidence to show severe physical and psychological damage caused by marijuana, and claiming otherwise is dangerous and irresponsible. As for decriminalization and legalization, that really has no bearing on the subject. Opiates and opioids are legal, but employers still test to identify use because of their impact on workplace safety. That’s what drug testing is about.
You state that alcohol and tobacco have been proven to cause far more major substance abuse issues, and we agree with you. However, we do test for alcohol use. We do this frequently and regularly. We don’t test for tobacco use because while it’s a nasty habit that has tremendous negative heath implications, it has zero impact on workplace safety.
I have witnessed people’s lives get ruined because of a THC-COOH positive result. One of my friends ceased using for 4 months because he knew a pre-employment screen was coming. He kept testing every day about 10 days before the UA and tested negative using both the home kits as well as a comprehensive GCMS screen from Quest Diagnostics.
Then, the week before the UA, he started exercising as part of a workout routine to lose some some weight. He then failed the UA because burning fat cells released the THC-COOH metabolite back into his system. A GCMS test was initiated to re-test the sample, and he still failed despite the adjusted detection cut-off. He lost a very promising career due to casual and responsible use of cannabis. This is someone who never drank, smoked cigarettes, or consumed any other substances who is married, has children, and has never been in trouble with the law.
No. You witness people’s lives get ruined because they chose to use drugs.
And I have some unfortunate news about your friend who claimed he ceased using marijuana four months before being tested—he lied to you. Even using hair follicle drug testing, which offers the longest detection window, marijuana use can only be detected up to 90 days after the last use. And that is for heavy use. The detection window is significantly shorter for light users.
You stated that he is someone who never drank, smoked cigarettes, or consumed any other substances, however, he did willingly consume marijuana despite knowing it would disqualify him from the job. Remember how I talked about the impact of marijuana on judgment? This is a perfect example.
I’m not completely against drug screens. They certainly play a crucial role for employers who suspect an employee is using on the job or showing up to work under the influence, and thus becomes a liability. The majority of cannabis users are responsible and productive employees, students, husbands, wives, and parents. If a GCMS test can detect metabolites from 3 months prior simply due to body fat breaking down and releasing THC-COOH back into their system, the test simply is not an accurate representation of current use. Follicle testing also has detection inconsistencies.
It appears that you’re upset that this test is too accurate? We don’t grade on a curve. The entire point is to identify drug use, and this test does that very effectively and accurately.
Has your company noticed any trends in the people who test positive ONLY for cannabis use? Are they similar in appearance, disposition, and lifestyle to those using hard drugs? Do they strike you as criminals who deserve to have their lives ruined? I’m not asking out of spite, I honestly want the view from the other side of the issue. As a company that administers these tests regularly, you must surely notice certain trends and personality profiles for people that need to undergo testing.
Yes, some people only test positive for marijuana use. Just like some only test positive for meth, heroin, or opiates. And some test positive for everything under the sun. And people of all types use drugs, from the ones who look and act like you might stereotypically expect a drug user to act, all the way up to white collar executives. That’s why we conduct drug testing rather than simply relying on appearances.
Do they strike us as criminals? Well, that’s for law enforcement to decide, but since marijuana is still illegal at the federal level as of the time of this post, that does technically make them criminals. But this isn’t about the law. It’s about safety.
In closing…
Ultimately, drug testing is about workplace safety. It always has been and always will be. Even in the event that marijuana is legalized in every state, and at the federal level, testing for it will continue because while it may be your right to ingest whatever you want to ingest, it’s also an employer’s right to decide not to employ you if you choose to do so.
Thanks for reaching out and giving me an opportunity to clear up any misconceptions about drug testing for marijuana. Hopefully this is helpful, both for you and for other people who share the same misconceptions.
David Bell,
CEO, USA Mobile Drug Testing
