My question: What’s the threshold of acceptable weed (if any)? I’m in college. Most people have at least tried it once, so they must accept some minimum, no?
I’ve been a super casual user of weed. I smoke when my anxiety gets too much (gets in the way of me sleeping and living my life, this stops some of the panic attacks). I’d say it averages out to once a month approximately? Some months more, others less or not at all.
Thing is: I have a drug test for my internship. Urine test will be fine, but hair follicle will show my usage in the past. I’m by no means a regular user, and I don’t go hard when I do smoke (I have low body fat content btw), but I have definitely smoked within the past three months.
Hair follicle tests are rare, so it’s unlikely you’ll have to do that test. No guarantees, though. Urine tests are standard, so you will need to be prepared for that. If you’re in the career world, employers are serious about being a drug free workplace and some are anal about random drug screenings. If you’re working and test positive on a random drug screening, you’d be fired on the spot as soon as your boss gets the results from HR. I would suggest using the traditional method for treating anxiety.
You have probably already been tested by now, but I’ve noticed it varies by field of study. I’m in engineering, and 100% of my friends who are also studying engineering who got a co-op or internship were drug tested for it, and all but 2 had hair tests. This is probably due to the likelihood of heavy machinery in the workplace. If you are a business, communications, etc. student, it will probably be urine if anything, but my friend had a hair test for his marketing internship. Hair test I would not count on being “clean” unless you abstain for 3 months, it does not matter if you only smoke once a month or every day. You really don’t get a screw up and clean up with a hair test so if your anxiety is that bad you should consider seeing a psychiatrist for legal options of treatment.
I wonder how employers will adjust their policies as more states legalize marijuana. My sister lives in Denver and says smoking it is equivalent to having a beer. Companies don’t test for alcohol so will they eventually stop testing for marijuana? And in even more states, it’s legal for medical purposes.
Unfortunately what matters is whether it’s legal at the federal level. Even if you live in a state where marijuana is legal, a company can still refuse to hire you based on a drug test given current federal law. I don’t see that changing at least for the next 3 years…
I know that federal government employers (even for internships and co-ops) have a 100% zero tolerance, even if you are in a state where its legal or its prescribed for medical reasons. This is due to the fact that federal law supersedes state law. I would assume for most other employers that test, there is no minimum allowed as well.
Is the 100% zero tolerance a new policy ? Many years ago I read that the FBI changed their policy & would accept marijuana use if the applicant disclosed it.
@Publisher I should clarify that by federal government employers, I mean employers that require security clearance, public trust, and/or background checks for employment. I believe the FBI’s current policy (which has been in place for some time) is that you are completely ineligible for employment with them if you have used within the last three years, and if you have used it prior to then, it is considered in your vetting process. Some agencies have even stricter policies with regards to how long a buffer there must be, if there is one at all. By 100% zero tolerance, I meant that if they find it on a drug test, it doesn’t matter how little the amount is, whether you’re in a state where its legal, or whether its for medical reasons- you’ll be terminated immediately (or not hired, if discovered during the hiring process).