Marijuana Urine Test Still In DoT Marijuana Regulations

Two Stories:

Although the new marijuana regulations issued by the Department of Justice ask prosecutors not to arrest medical marijuana users or people who provide medical marijuana in compliance with state laws, the Department of Transportation has not altered its policy vis-a-vis drug testing at all. A marijuana urine test or marijuana saliva test will still face those in "safety-sensitive occupations," even if the drug use was prescribed, and a positive result cannot be excused with a prescription. Both test types can be obtained in home drug test form for the parent, employer, or employee concerned about marijuana use.

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On the other side of the world, New Zealand is preparing its roadside marijuana drug test regimen. A driver who seems impaired must first take a breath alcohol test, and if they pass one as well as a check of physical signs of impairment (test walking, eye pupil size, etc.) they will have to submit to a drug test. Law enforcement in NZ has found an unlikely ally for this project - NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), not exactly friends of a marijuana urine test, has shown support, saying driving while impaired is not a reflection of the responsible marijuana use they advocate.

However, NORML's Mr. Fowlie contests the marijuana drug testing / general drug testing methodology used by New Zealand law enforcement, saying it would not test for a current "high" but rather result in arrests based on residual marijuana. From the article: "So whether or not they were impaired at the time of driving, which should be the issue, it now becomes just another way to bust pot smokers simply because these residues hang around."

When choosing a home drug test for marijuana, this is an important consideration. Do you want to know if someone is high now, or has used the drug recently, or in the past 90 days? A hair drug test can tell you a drug history of up to a year if body hair is used, while a saliva drug test can tell you if someone is high at the moment. Urine tests can detect marijuana from approximately 2-5 hours after use for as long as 15 to 30 days after use. For the consumer, these facts are important to know, and you can see all the detection times at Home Health Testing's detection test times page.

Marijuana Drug Test Rules in the DoT

Some people already find a marijuana urine drug test to be embarrassing, even when taken in a completely private area. But these concerns are not a priority in the new guidelines set out for commercial transportation drug testing. The Chicago Tribune reports on the new test requirements facing bus drivers, truckers, pilots, and train conductors, among others. Now anyone who has failed or refused prior drug or alcohol tests will have to urinate in front of the person administering the test.

This new rule about the marijuana urine drug test and other drug tests administered by the DoT applies to both men and women. It's likely it won't make some people happy, but it's quite possible the majority of DoT regulated workers will applaud it. According to the Tribune, some independent studies show illegal drug use in the transportation industry at 10 percent. Working in conjunction with somebody who abuses illegal drugs, especially at the workplace, makes many already dangerous transportation jobs even more dangerous.

However, for the DoT the marijuana urine drug test may not be the best option - and the humiliation of urinating in front of someone seems unfair. A saliva drug test could give you very accurate and non-intrusive results on a short term basis for many drugs. To compare, check out this chart. This method has the additional benefit of being able to indicate current impairment. A hair drug test could also be extremely helpful in identifying long-term users. Perhaps also useful could be the device attached to this home drug test, which has a strip in it that checks the temperature of the urine sample to ensure that it is fresh.

Though urine testing can be embarrassing, you can save yourself some embarrassment by using a home drug test with a temperature check strip, like the marijuana urine drug test from Home Health Testing. The test is easy to use, 99% accurate, and meets the same SAMHSA standards used by the DoT in their testing. Buy one here today!

Interesting New Study on Marijuana

It seems marijuana is constantly the subject of scientific study, whether it's developing a marijuana urine test or studying new use trends. The Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse in their July 1 issue published a new study on smoking, drinking, and marijuana use among teens. This study ties in cigarette smoking with under-age alcohol consumption and marijuana use, which suggests that cigarettes are a "gateway drug." In sum, if a teenager feels that cigarette smoking is acceptable, they are much more likely to use alcohol or marijuana. For a parent thinking about purchasing a marijuana urine test, these interactions may be interesting to watch.

Another slightly older study provides more interesting facts about marijuana use in teens and adults. This SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) study highlights the varying rates of drug use across the country, state by state. First-time ever marijuana use was the highest in Vermont (2.5%) and lowest in Utah (1.6%). These statistics may interest someone thinking about purchasing a marijuana drug test for the first time. Nationally in 2006-7 (the period covered in this study) 10.2% of persons 12 or older reported marijuana use within that year. 12.8% of teenagers (12 to 17 year olds) nationally used marijuana at least once in the past year (see this table). To read the full report, you can click this link.

Marijuana then, plays a considerable role in our lives. Athletes are screened for it, employees are screened for it, and children as well. You can put this power in your own hands by purchasing a marijuana urine test from Home Health Testing. The test is 98% accurate and FDA approved. Although the drug may be illegal in most situations in the United States, testing for it is not. You can screen at home with a convenient home drug test.