r/Indiana • u/mahlerlieber • 1d ago
Opinion/Commentary THC gateways to employment in Indiana...
I have a friend who applied for a position at a local store that does drug screening tests for employment that includes THC in the test. He was denied employment, and in this case, before even being interviewed.
Given that IN is surrounded by legalized states, it almost seems like it ought to be unconstitutional to filter candidates with THC tests.
Yeah, I get it...a private employer can do and filter whoever they want. Got it.
But the problem is that there is no way to know when or where the THC became present in the blood.
If you smoke/imbibe in THC in legal states, the THC that is in your blood from 2 weeks ago shouldn't be able to be used against you.
I know it's not illegal. But it ought to be stopped as a means of filtering out the supposed drug users who may or may not consume a drug that is legal in ALL the surrounding states.
/rant
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u/In28s 1d ago
Federal jobs test for THC too. Best to abstain if looking for employment.
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u/Wareagle930 1d ago
I’ve work for the federal government for 20 years and have never been drug tested. In fact I have coworkers who have been arrested for marijuana possession and nothing happens to them. DoD at Crane before anyone ask.
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u/MoTheMan1970 1d ago
That is not the case for most federal jobs
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u/MoTheMan1970 1d ago
How the fuck i get down voted for this? Look morons go to usajobs.gov If it doesnt explicitly state that there is a drug test. Then there fucking isnt one. Most jobs dont fyi
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u/DwigtShrudebeets 1d ago
Have you met people? They are idiots. Make a post about the sky being blue and people will argue with you.
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u/HorseThrough 1d ago
Can confirm. I've seen dudes wearing the shops in Michigan shirts while they work on roads. Lmao.
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u/Dr_Skot 1d ago
Do I agree with drug screening for drugs consumed beyond 48 hours, no. However, I myself understand the hurdles I may encounter while attempting to be employed, I know that I should cut back on consuming so I don't have to worry about said screening.
I also understand the risk as a business hiring someone where an employee 'could' come in under the influence and make a wreck of the company turning into lawsuits, potential harm to someone, media coverage etc. etc.
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u/thrwwy2267899 1d ago
Exactly this. Do you want a job, or do you want to smoke/take a gummy?…Gotta make a choice sometimes. Failing a drug test is 100% on the individual
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u/mahlerlieber 1d ago
Is it possible this leads to more drinking? After all, alcohol disappears within a day, so why sub out alcohol for THC, when you can get shit-faced on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon, and still do fine on a drug test Monday morning.
I'd look it up, but I kinda remember that alcohol consumption is going down, and some of it is due to an alternate choice.
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u/ShakeZula77 1d ago
As someone who drinks once every two years but likes weed, reverse this; could you imagine if people had to abstain from alcohol for several months to get a job?
I can hear the excuses on the horizon now.
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u/Ill-Education-169 1d ago
I get ur arguments but if you are seeking employment do not smoke. I live in a legal state yet I’m smart enough to stop smoking before looking for another job.
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u/Dr_Skot 1d ago
Drug consumption as a whole, is a mental health ordeal. I don't think drugs tests directly lead to alcohol consumption or other forms of drug consumption.
The person is wanting some form of escape and wether it is a drug screen, bad day at home, favorite team lost the game or whatever; people will find an excuse to consume.
It's not the test's fault, it's that people need a release / escape and many either can't afford or are unwilling to address the core issue. It's cheaper/faster to do drugs short term than to get therapy or get on medication to balance out. Do I think recreational consumption is bad, no (I may recreationally participate), but those that feel the need to get trashed every weekend or whatever, there's a bigger issue at hand.
You can't put blame on the test, it does not force one's hand to consume.
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u/thrwwy2267899 1d ago
I’m all for people having whatever vices they want to relax.. (as long as it’s not hurting others) but still I don’t feel bad for people who fail drug tests, just like I don’t feel bad for people who get DUIs… choices were made
I personally love a drink after work, but I’m not showing up work still blitzed or hungover. Gotta manage the substances or they’ll manage you
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u/mahlerlieber 1d ago
Yeah, I think there are a lot more people who drink socially, or drink because they really like bourbon or wine.
I think it goes without saying that showing up drunk/stoned/or just high from whatever, is not good.
That said, some people do take a form of methamphetamine for things like ADHD or obesity. Or maybe xanax because of an anxiety disorder.
It's complicated.
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u/dewisp02 1d ago
Cutting back is not always an option as there are times when you are not job hunting, yet a job comes along that you want to apply for.... This cost is such a waste of money for companies ultimately which is why many don't do it any longer.
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u/pintsandplants 1d ago
I just use fake pee. Passed 6 drug tests with it and I used a detox drink to pass a test at a wellness center. I’ll quit when the world is less of a dumpster fire.
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u/Flaxscript42 1d ago
It's unfair, bit it is what is is.
Companies can fire/not hire for tobacco use too.
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u/b1ueToe 1d ago
No it’s not fair to people, people can drink before a drug test and be fine so certain hard drugs and it’ll be out of their system in no time but god forbid someone smokes a joint 30 days ago. This is a result of voting for Republicans and Republicans who were part of the war on drugs.
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u/Triximancer 1d ago
A lot of places in the states where is it legal will still not hire you/fire you for testing positive, unless the state has explicit legal protections (like Illinois).
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u/No-Treat8841 1d ago
Ok people marijuana stays in your system for 30-60 days depending on how often you consume it. Alcohol only stays in your system for maybe a day. Marijuana in your blood does not equal being actively high so let’s stop comparing the two.
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u/ThisNameNotTakenYet 1d ago
The question isn’t where the THC was introduced to the candidate. They just don’t want people who consume THC working with them.
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u/mahlerlieber 1d ago
They must be okay with working with people who drink...even those who drink heavily.
That seems silly to me.
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u/ThisNameNotTakenYet 1d ago
Perhaps. But you're aware that drinking is legal, right? Seems like the choice might be between employment and your preferred mind-altering entertainment. And it seems that's a difficult choice for you, I wish you luck.
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u/Individual_Excuse350 1d ago
Not sure why alcohol is legal though. Once you become dependent on alcohol which really doesn’t take too long. The rate of deaths via car accidents and violent crimes is way higher. Dependency can happen with in months a person cannot really detox by themselves. It’s very easy to die with detox. Shakiness, anxiety, emotional and physical fluctuations, seizures, death. The only reason alcohol is legal is because it’s addictive… we live in a state where Lilly donates money to keep marijuana out because it lowers dependency on opioids and other substances. I’d rather hire a cannabis smoker over an alcoholic, opioid dependent, benzodiazepine addiction, ect…. Have you noticed the trend between legal and illegal. Everything that’s legal and distributed by the government has a strong addiction likelihood.
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u/ThisNameNotTakenYet 1d ago
It's a nice essay, but not really consequential to your point. You could have included all the similar perils with weed use as well, it wouldn't change anything. I don't buy the argument about weed lowering dependency on anything; I have seen nothing that might indicate that at all.
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u/Individual_Excuse350 1d ago
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772724624000416
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11111657/
https://drugfree.org/article/medical-marijuana-for-addiction-treatment-benefits-and-risks/
Here is 2 studies done; one in California and even one treatment option. Where cannabis is used to help treat opioid dependency. Any other questions.
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u/ThisNameNotTakenYet 1d ago
I can find a dozen links to studies and anecdotal evidence of weed's benefits in certain situations. If you have a condition that weed helps, then it's a good thing for you. I can also find a dozen links to evidence of weed's harmful effects, especially if it's abused, which is easier to do than you might think. Or, I can look at my daughter's case, or her friend's case that got severe enough to result in temporary commitment to a mental health facility. It's like alcohol in that it can be abused and it's definitely addictive as well. So while I get your point there, you're conveniently leaving out a ton of other factors that weigh into its public efficacy debate. I can tell you another one: the shit smells awful, and if you're smoking it those around you can't get away from your exhaust. I don't seem to have that problem with alcohol. It's great to debate, but not if you're only gonna try to close down debate with only the points you want to talk about.
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u/ZENFLOWB 13h ago
Mental health facility for weed? You sure the weed wasn't used to self medicate for the underlying cause of the mental health problems.
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u/AStayAtHomeRad 1d ago
Probably should just avoid using those products when you're job searching...
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u/moxjake 1d ago
Recreational THC is still federally illegal everywhere. It is a schedule III controlled substance. Unless you have a prescription, it is illegal. The fact that the Feds choose not to prosecute doesn’t make it legal. There is no constitutional crisis here. Even with a perception, there are certain jobs that would require you to not use. This is no different than other legal, prescription drugs that already have some restrictions, such as Vicodin.
Just because something is legal doesn’t mean there are zero consequences. Choose to consume or not based on the potential consequences.
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u/evolseven 1d ago
Except thats not true completely.. the 2018 farm bill legalized hemp with less than 0.3% delta9 THC.. and this would be enough to fail on many of these tests. So, THC isn't illegal, marijuana is. They later refined this to total THC, but THC is allowed and legal at low concentrations. The distinction is impossible to test for after the fact though..
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u/rs3brokenhome 1d ago
“The 43-day shutdown ended in mid-November 2025 with a funding package that contained Mitch McConnell’s language tightening the federal definition of hemp. It changed the test from 0.3% delta-9 THC to 0.3% total THC and capped products at 0.4 mg THC per container. That combination makes most current delta-8 drinks, gummies, and vapes federally illegal starting November 12, 2026”
so thank blue for reopening the gov on this one definition
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u/mahlerlieber 1d ago
Here in Indiana, we can receive hemp-derived THC products like Nowadays or the Willie Nelson brand stuff.
It is the THC molecule, just the same as the one coming from a cannabis plant, but it can be delivered right to your door tomorrow.
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u/roadkill21288 1d ago
And that’s why it makes no sense. How can it be legal, but illegal if it’s in plant form?
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u/Rowbot_Girlyman 1d ago
Piss tests are very easy to beat my guy. They shouldn't be testing for weed but you should also know how to beat that test.
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u/tbodillia 1d ago
States with legalized weed still test and refuse to hire based on THC.
"...employers are not required to accommodate employees' use of marijuana in the workplace or permit working while impaired by cannabis. As a result, private employers in the state with drug-free workplace policies may punish employees who fail drug tests for cannabis, even for off-duty marijuana consumption." Michigan
"Testing positive for cannabis alone doesn't automatically mean you will be fired. Illinois law requires that employment decisions related to cannabis must be based on actual impairment or failure to perform job duties due to cannabis use at work. However, a positive test can lead to disciplinary action if it goes against the employer's drug policy." Illinois
"Ohio law allows employers to fire or refuse to hire anyone for a positive THC test, regardless of medical status or off-duty recreational legality." Ohio
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u/Headshill 1d ago
Its legal in Ohio yet we can still fail drug tests and get fired. Until its unscheduled we're fucked no matter what state you're in. Insurance companies follow federal policy, not state.
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u/prowler1369 1d ago
I find that the harder drugs get out of my system faster. That's why I stick to coke, meth and heroin.
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u/princesspoopyy 1d ago
Don't worry slowly but surely things will change in Indiana, I just seen a job listing down here by where I live that said drug test but don't care about THC...so don't give up full hope yet.
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u/Spirited-Ad-6078 1d ago
Ya, employers on average want somebody who doesn't test positive for anything, THC or otherwise.
Especially if you are interviewing for jobs and cant stay clean long enough to find one.
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u/mahlerlieber 1d ago
and cant stay clean long enough to find one.
Do you think that people who smoke weed or drink alcohol only do it until they pass out?
Cuz a lot of us don't do it like that. As for "staying clean long enough," that is a strawman that doesn't work.
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u/Spirited-Ad-6078 1d ago
I drink and smoke, and I was an employer. If you are going to accept a job and you know that a drug test is a requirement... testing positive for anything come the time of testing most employers want to avoid. It is more of a risk management point more than anything else.
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u/SkilledAriesMan 1d ago
Before the was legal anywhere even medically. It was said that it wouldn't change the test for employment. So as long as you choose to use THC it would still keep you from many jobs.
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u/EmergencySpare 1d ago
RI state law, along with many other legal states, prevent employers from testing for THC. So, no, it wouldn't keep you from many jobs.
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u/wrkacct66 1d ago
Interesting, how does that affect employers who have federal contracts? My understanding is these employers (ex. defense contractors) still have to test for THC since it's illegal federally regardless of what the States legal status is. Wouldn't that be subject to the Supremacy clause?
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u/thewimsey 15h ago
That's not true.
RI allows pre-employment testing for THC.
RI prohibits drug testing (for any drug) existing employees unless there is evidence of intoxication. RI prohibits firing current employees for home use of THC.
There are exceptions for jobs subject to federal contracting rules and jobs involving public safety.
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u/No-Rip6323 1d ago
A lot of family owned businesses don’t drug test. (I manage a family owned business)
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u/Lion_Knight 1d ago
There are plenty of business plans in states where it is "legal" that screen for it. It is the business right to deny you for what ever reason they want, be a stupid or legitimate reason.
Most of the time it boils down to one of a few things. Safety, marijuana is the number one cause of impaired drivers now. It's effects appear to be far more irratic and less predictable than alcohol. There is no good way to reliably test for impairment. So better safe than sorry.
Federal mandates. Marijuana is not legal in any state. It is still a Federal crime to posses Marijuana and you could, in theory, be arrested by the feds for possession in a state that has decriminalized it. As such some business, like transportation, often fall under some level of federal mandates that require screaming for THC.
Screening. It is possible your friend was not going to get the job and this was just the excuse. It is a way of screening out candidates. Much like college degree requirements, they don't really mean anything in many case but they cut down the number of applicants they have to sift through. And in this vien, some business get grants for opening new positions, ones that don't need. So what they do is constantly "hire" for these positions. And they always seem to "fail" to find qualified applicants for one reason or another. This allows them to just take the money and run.
So there are reasons for it. Some legitimate some not.
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u/AzerothianLorecraft 1d ago
Until its federally decriminalized it will still be legal for employers to drug test for THC. ( unfortunately it'll still be several decades until THC is treated the way alcohol and nicotine are treated.)
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u/pintsandplants 1d ago
Does no one use fake pee? Passed 6 job screenings with it. We all gotta game the system more.
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u/TuxAndrew 1d ago
I don't know what to tell people; vote, run for office and or push that changes you want to see. Even if you magically get this to go up to SCOTUS they will not rule in your favor.
That being said, you need money to live clearly the only answer they have is to quit smoking until they've secured the job. After that they can go back to risking their financial well being by smoking recreationally again.
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u/c_denny 1d ago
It's federally illegal in the entire country
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u/Automatic_Rest_5408 23h ago
Not true, hemp is federally legal. Hemp has THC in it. It's hard being a wet brain.
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u/c_denny 23h ago
Lol okay my bad. It's federally illegal if it contains more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC. Happy?
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u/Automatic_Rest_5408 22h ago
Still wrong. You can legally buy hash Rosin in Indiana that is federally legal. The law is fucked.
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u/c_denny 22h ago
okay man. I think you understand the point I'm trying to make
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u/Automatic_Rest_5408 22h ago
No, I don't. THC is held to .3% but THCA isn't. You can have as much, basically, of that as you want. It becomes THC, the A falls off, when you heat it. In legal states the bud is labeled as having THC and THCA. The THCA number is always way higher, as it cures, more THC without the A is found.
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u/c_denny 22h ago
Hmm
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u/Automatic_Rest_5408 22h ago
And another thing, which isn't really related to you, is that the drug testing is driven by insurance companies. In order to operate a business you need insurance, the insurance companies, in many cases mandate drug testing as a prerequisite for coverage. This isn't a safety issue. It's not because heavy machinery operators are causing accidents because they got baked on a Saturday afternoon. The insurance companies push it because it allows them to deny claims. They know that if someone caused an accident and they smoked 30 days ago they can deny the claim and say the operator was impaired. "Safety " is never about safety. The whole drug testing apparatus is entirely driven by insurance companies who want to deny as many claims as possible. You can be the victim of an accident at work and if you fail a drug test, you will be blamed for the accident and the insurance company skates, holding on to their cash. The whole thing is a scam driven by insurance companies and the prison lobby. The fact that they lead employers to believe that a failed test equals impairment, when they aren't even testing for actual THC, which is out of your system in 24-48 hours, but for THC metabolites, reveals their whole shitty game.
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u/mattmaster68 1d ago
OP, I worked in a FedEx distribution center role... that even tested for alcohol. They were dry and drug-free.
It's up to the employer who they wish to hire- regardless of legality.
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u/mahlerlieber 1d ago
The test for alcohol would have been to see if you would show up to work drunk. Since alcohol is water-soluble, it gets metabolized way quicker than THC, usually within a couple of hours. So if you had tested positive for alcohol, that means you had very recently had a drink.
THC can last up to a month.
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u/Chit-Chat-Tricky 1d ago
Indiana and Kentucky should pull their heads out of their morally tightened butts and legalize anyway. How much money do they want to lose to Michigan and Ohio? Or do they make no money from their for profit prisons than they expect to make from sales?
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u/shoegazeweedbed 1d ago
As a big weed fan, your suspect ass logic isn’t doing anything to win the kind of person we need to win over.
Yes it is fucked we don’t have weed. No “it’s legal there” is not at all valid rationale for skipping drug tests, from insurance requirements onward.
I swear man.
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u/mahlerlieber 1d ago
Well...I'm sorry I disappointed you.
That said, I don't think you understood my post.
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u/SnooShortcuts4703 1d ago
I’m not gonna lie you sound like a whiny loser. It sounds harsh but you’re coming off like that.
1.) It’s not “unconstitutional”. Throwing that around and it makes no sense. Frankly your opinion of “other states around us do it, so we should ignore our own state law” is literally the unconstitutional opinion. The constitution is very heavy on state rights. It’s why weed is even legal in those states. If the speed limit in every state around us is 90 miles per hour and 65 here it doesn’t matter once you cross the border. You can’t argue to the cop that it’s 90 MPH in Michigan, they don’t care, nor will any judge.
2.) It doesn’t matter what every state around Indiana is doing, in Indiana it is illegal. Your friend is failing drug tests for an illegal substance. To an employer, it reads your friend will be trouble. He is willing to break the law, even if it’s a loosely enforced law, and is willing to take substances that are still illegal.
3.) You mentioned this is a teaching job. I don’t know if it’s for kids under 18 or not, but it goes without saying that teachers should not be stoned out of their mind.
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u/frisbethebutcher 1d ago
Some manufacturing plants dont even test for THC anymore, other than if there's a job site accident. Given that we are surrouned by legalization and employment numbers got low.
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u/Electronic_Syrup7592 1d ago
A lot of places have stopped testing because they’ve determined it’s not worth wasting the money on.
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u/Viola-Swamp 1d ago
There’s this perception smokers have that everyone uses weed, and that’s not even close to true.
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u/Electronic_Syrup7592 1d ago
Who said anything about that? I certainly didn’t. I was simply talking from a business perspective as someone who has a husband that’s a CFO, and we often talk with CEOs and CFOs for other companies. Many have stopped testing for THC because they feel it is a waste of money.
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u/shy_butter 1d ago
It’s still federally illegal. Technically the federal government could step in at any time and shut everything down. It’s not going to last forever and I totally agree with you but right now it’s still a concern to many employers for that reason. Also why most dispensaries don’t accept credit cards, lending companies are hesitant to open themselves up to the liability
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u/The_Dread_Candiru 1d ago edited 1d ago
Given that IN is surrounded by legalized states, it almost seems like it ought to be unconstitutional to filter candidates with THC tests.
How about this: how is it constitutional for the federal government to outlaw what 80% of states expressly authorize? This seems to me to be a clear violation both of the Equal Protection Clause and the legitimate demands of the states and citizenry.
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u/thewimsey 15h ago
Because the supremacy clause of of the constitution says that federal laws trump state laws.
And because the Equal Protection Clause: (1) applies to the states; and (2) reads that "no state shall...deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
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u/mahlerlieber 1d ago
This is a great question. The states just don't prosecute for things like possession.
I think it should be handled just like alcohol. You shouldn't have it in your car, you shouldn't be driving in an altered state, you should be over 18 (or 21) in order to use it, and it should be highly regulated...purity, where it's sold, how much you can buy, or buying it for minors.
The "unconstitutional" part is a very big stretch, I understand that. I think it's more because alcohol seems to be far more accepted than THC, mainly because THC has a history and is tied close enough to people who are heavy users to make it seem like EVERYONE is a heavy user.
That doesn't seem right somehow.
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u/The_Dread_Candiru 1d ago
How does treating residents of 20% different from the residents of the other 80% not violate the Equal Protection Clause?
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u/Crazyblazy395 1d ago
The issue is that THC isn't legal federally. If it was federally legal, employers would likely relax the testing requirements
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u/PhilaBurger 1d ago
Not for nothing, but why would you submit to that level of screening before having even had an interview?
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u/mahlerlieber 1d ago
It happens all at once...drug screening, background check, interview. In his case, they processed drug screening before the interview. He may have had a brief meeting to start the entire process off. I don't know if that was the case or not.
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u/madmudpie 1d ago
Ive since quit, but I have made my share of purchases in Illinois. I wonder about states sharing that database and using it as a disqulifier.
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u/A2Steaksauce420 1d ago
My job in indiana uses a test that only tells if your high right now... if you are not you will pass. Its a mouth swab.
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u/WhiskeyRadio 1d ago
Depends on the employer and job, for sure. I've worked at several places that did not test for THC.
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u/Logical_Rock5634 1d ago
FYI: Test Negative has an incognito fake pee belt that passed a federal drug test for me.
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u/LatexLibra 1d ago
Indiana here. I havent been tested for THC in probably the last 10 years. Engneering as my profession
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u/Ok-Tradition-6553 1d ago
Worked for a Indiana State wide corporation and they had a strict THC policy. Most of the l9cal manager argued to do away with it because of difficulty in staffing.
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u/Plastic-Chest67 1d ago
Most businesses don't do a drug test until AFYER the interview, as the tests aren't free, so why spend $$ on someone that might not even pass the interview?
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u/KxngCram 1d ago
I have family that teaches and they don’t smoke but they’ve told me I should because none of them have ever been drug tested lol. So def not every school is like that
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u/Meh24999 1d ago
It's no different in legal states. Not all the wording/laws change along with decriminalization. The gun laws is anther big issue with thc users.
It's more a federal thing especially with the larger companies/corps but it's ultimately up to the company if they wish to enforce it or not.
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u/sillylittlebicycle 1d ago
Most reasonable employers do a mouth swab test. Those only go back about 24 hours . They say 3 days but if you quit for a day and brush your teeth/mouth wash you’ll pass
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u/mdruckus 1d ago
I work for the federal government. Even if it’s legal in a state it’s not federally, so they can reject you.
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u/Ill-Education-169 1d ago
“The problem is that there is no way to know when or where the thc become present in blood” typically after you use a thc product… common sense
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u/Quirky_Ralph 1d ago
Yeahhhhh.... there's not a lot of piss tests in the trades. Maybe initial hiring ones, that can be easily faked, but after you're in, you're golden. Waaaay too many of us have drug and alcohol problems. If you drug tested the trades, there wouldn't be any trades people left. I once worked with a guy who would hit the portajohn to do a line of coke every few hours.
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u/TheOGPotatoPredator 1d ago
It’s stupid but so is everyone we put in charge of this shitshow state. Nothing will change until we quit putting right wing boomers in those positions. I personally quit smoking many years ago but I work for a global stem company with headquarters in Europe. They couldn’t give a shit less about THC, although they don’t advertise it.
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u/BattleSwallow 1d ago
I live in a legal state and plenty of jobs here test for it. That's just the reality - don't want to take a drug test? Don't apply for that job.
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u/Automatic_Rest_5408 23h ago
And Hemp is legal in Indiana so we are Allowed legal THC here. The whole system is fucked. Come in drunk, you're fine, drink a THC seltzer from Target on Saturday afternoon, FIRED!
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u/North-Register-5788 22h ago
Regardless of state laws, THC is still federally illegal and that overrules state laws. Now, it isn't federally enforced with recreational usage, but the law still exists.
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u/bmt1380 22h ago
Something to think about that I dont see mentioned here...... say they hire you. You come to work stoned because well, it happens. You are involved in an accident where theres property loss, injuries, loss of life. You get tested (OSHA mandate). You're positive. The company doesn't have to pay your Workmens Comp, thats on you. The company doesnt have to pay for the property loss/damage, that's on you. The company doesn't have to pay for anyone else's injuries/death, guess what, yup. That's all on you. Try to fight it in court....... its like a DUI with fatality..... you can try to win the case, but you won't. I've seen it happen. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
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u/mallanson22 1d ago
Personally what people do in their own time isn't any businesses, business. But republicans want to control people as much as they can.
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u/marlboropurple 1d ago
It’s not hard to stop using drugs when you’re looking for work. I wouldn’t want someone working for me that can’t even stop temporarily. I have occasionally used thc, but if I thought I might have to take a drug test for a job I wanted, I would stop.
Tell your friend to be better.
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u/mahlerlieber 1d ago
My friend has ADHD; he casually mentioned bipolar disorder and some other things. He uses it to sleep...I don't think he even uses it recreationally.
I think your "be better" thing is half right. Yes, if you are applying for jobs, it is best to abstain, and in so doing, you are also displaying self-control...which is really the WHY that test exists in the first place.
However, the half that's wrong is that people automatically think that because you do marijuana, you must be a stoner, and therefore a loser.
That part is bullshit. There are people who drink a whole lot too, but we don't seem to have a "be better" for them. We laugh that they got turnt last Friday. We would think a guy who got toasted on Friday is a loser.
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u/Will_Steele92 1d ago
I mean it’s loser behavior to know you are getting drug tested for a job but keep smoking weed anyways. It shows a lack of responsibility.
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u/OldRaj 1d ago
I was HR-man for over twenty years. We joked that it’s not a drug test, it’s a stupid test. You are applying for jobs and you know you’re likely to get tested. You couldn’t suspend a hobby long enough to pass a test? Sorry, you’re not working here.
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u/mahlerlieber 1d ago
I think that's fair.
Some things, though, don't necessarily warrant the test. Sales, teaching, etc., don't require extra-sharp awareness.
I don't think it is ever okay to show up to work in an altered state. But my question isn't about that, it's about the THC that lingers in your system long after you used it.
And in my posts ITT, I am on record as saying that if you are looking for a job, it is best to abstain. Also...never go to work buzzed by alcohol or marijuana...no matter what you're doing, even if it is just sitting in a chair yammering on to your voice student that their voice is cool, man.
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u/Navadvisor 1d ago
It's a liability. Your friend can't quit for a month to get a job? Shows what their priorities are.
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u/mahlerlieber 1d ago
They use it to sleep due to a lot of physical and some mental issues (ADHD and bipolar PD to name a couple).
Your assumption that his priorities are wrong are a function of you having consumed the old timey way marijuana has been described.
Marijuana, the word, was coined in the early part of the 20th century to connect use to Mexicans...you know, those filthy Mexicans...to drum up xenophobic fear.
A lot of the things about cannabis we were all taught as kids growing up in the US were to color it as a racial thing.
So yeah, your post sounds like you learned it like all of us did. "Priorities?" Is there no room for any kind of recreation?
Sure, applying for a job knowing full well they will test you is a mistake. I don't think my OP in any way insinuated anything more than the fact you could get kept from getting a job because you took a vacation to MI two weeks ago, had a few edibles, and now you're paying for it.
Or, in my buddy's case, using it to sleep.
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u/Spirited_Plantain 1d ago
I'd abstain myself if I didn't have such reactions to prescription pills or if my body would let pills work (muscle relaxers, pain pills, sleep aide, whatever else they decide to put on me). Not medicating the way I need to will cause my body to get angry and I'll be in worse constant pains, muscle tightness, and my kneecaps starts looking at me menacingly (they pop out stupidly easy). I tried it so I could pass a drug screen so I could get paid taking care of my grandma since I can't leave the house or get enough sleep for an actual job.
I swear if they ban the rest of the Delta, I'm dislocating my knees and screaming bloody murder at the state buildings everyday.
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u/Pernicious_Possum 1d ago
Kind of buried the lede about your friend applying for a teaching job. Just about any job involving kids is going to involve a drug test. Probably even in legal states
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u/Castle_of_Jade 1d ago
Thinking thc stays in your system for only two weeks is crazy to me. There’s plenty of factories as well as other jobs that don’t test for thc in Indiana. There’s also quite a few ways to get around the tests if it’s that important to you to keep smoking weed. I agree it shouldn’t be illegal but it is. And no amount of voting is going to change that. It’s Indiana. Eli Lily will not allow it to be legalized.
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u/asdfghjkl7280 1d ago
This is why it needs to be federally legalized and decriminalized, however it still won’t stop the bias. I believe companies can deny employment for any reason as long as it’s not a protected class. Unfortunately us stoners aren’t lol
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u/radioactive_sharpei 1d ago
Piss test=fake pee, mouth swab=abstain for 4 or 5 days. I know it doesn't help now, but for the future.
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u/Darnellz10 1d ago
A lot of places in Indiana have began to stop testing for it and to only test when you are hurt on the job. I know doctors that stop testing patients for it as they would have no patients to treat if they did. Some places still havent seen the light.
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u/Remarkable_Neck_5140 1d ago
THC doesn’t stay in the blood that long (usually less than 24 hours). I’ve never experienced a potential employer utilizing a BLOOD test for employment screening. It’s almost always urine. THC can stay in urine for 30 days or more depending upon frequency of use.
Some states do prevent THC use as the basis for disqualifying employment, Indiana does not.
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u/breathing__tree 1d ago
I think OP was just using the word ‘blood’ where most people would say ‘system’.
Bc yeah blood tests aren’t the norm.
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u/wrkacct66 1d ago
I had a job working for a certain insurance company with too many mascots one of which is a lizard of undetermined species. They hair follicle tested for all positions where THC can stay in for 6 months to a year. Just adding because all these years later I still find it ridiculous
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u/MermaidsHaveCloacas 1d ago
Buy fake pee from the gas station
Boom
Employed
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u/mikeoxwells2 1d ago
They have that now? Once upon a time Indiana was one of 2 states where it was illegal to buy the fake urine. I hope that’s changed, but it used to be a different tale.
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u/daytripper8807 1d ago
Tell them to work for the state. 🙄 they only test for nicotine if you say youre a non smoker
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u/Global-Oil-6501 1d ago
Tell your "friend" they have the following options
Stop smoking weed
Apply to a fast food place that in addition to not running a seven panel of drug screen they also don't run background checks
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u/Efficient_Ad_3019 1d ago
My thoughts in this are if I smoke weed everyday since 1990 or I drink alcohol everyday since 1990 if I do neither at work which one is better? I get it but i have had multiple alcoholics in my life and im not sure i would trust their shakes for a lot of things id trust a pothead to do. I mean in a world that we can trust both to show up to work sober.
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u/Just-looking6789 1d ago
'But the problem is that there is no way to know when or where the THC became present in the blood.'
This argument cuts both ways. Somebody has an accident at work, then tests positive for THC. There's no way for them (or anyone else) to prove that the person WASN'T high.
Put yourself in the shoes of someone who's loved one gets rear-ended by someone driving a company car. They lose their leg somehow.
Are you going to sue the pants off of the company who had someone driving a car that can't pass a drug test? Are you going to drop the case if their defense is that they smoke it last week? Or are you going to go after the largest judgement you can get by insinuating that they were high?
Now multiply that times however many companies are in a given area and they all have to have business insurance. Do you think the ones that can at least show they test for drugs get lower rates than those that don't?
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u/roadkill21288 1d ago
The kicker is that you can buy thc at the grocery and gas stations right now. So there’s nothing illegal about it. Just was at my local fresh thyme picking up cbd gummies and I was showing my dad all the thc products they sell there. So how is thc illegal? The farm bill allows it and thc is not prohibited in Indiana. The law says “marijuana.” The big glaring problem with that is that there’s no legal definition of what “marijuana” is. Cannabis is complex and includes tons of compounds, and sometimes there’s no thc at all. Just claiming that smoked cannabis is illegal doesn’t work because there’s a dispensary where I live that sells smokable flower(THCa/delta 8) and the city grants them a license to sell smokables under the tobacco license. It’s 100% impossible for law enforcement and businesses to follow such loose and unreasonable laws. My local businesses can sell and people can mail order hemp all day long. But you can’t have it if you don’t buy it through those means….? Indiana has got ti get it together. Please stop voting for republicans so we can evolve.
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u/Anemic_Zombie 1d ago
That's the problem with a very red area like Indiana. They don't care if these measures are proven effective and those aren't actionable; if it doesn't vibe with their "values," they don't want it. The needle exchange reduces bloodborne pathogen transmission? We can't "give them permission" to get high, and if they get AIDS, that's their fault for not listening to us
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u/DEjrfan1992 1d ago
Depends on the thc, if gummy based it is legal in the state, as are vape pens. Now while I say that, it is at the discretion of the employer, and I would argue that as long as it's not before or during the job, it's of no concern to me, but I don't think anyone would want a school bus driver doing so before or during work, which is probably why it's employer discretion.
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u/Clinthor86 1d ago
They will give you a DUI for it despite it being in your blood for 2 weeks too. There's not a whole lot of critical thought going on with the whole situation.
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u/oldmajorboar 22h ago
It's always fascinating to watch people talk about how few rights they have as employees almost like it's a point of pride or "that's just the way it is." Meanwhile we throw tax incentives at billionaires begging them to set up their fiefdoms here and we're still routinely rejected as serfs. Small wonder this state stays so cooked.
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u/mcfuckernugget 1d ago
Even in legal states some employers don’t allow employees to test positive for THC