Coming out

I had this difficult decision recently where I was was offered a lucrative, short term contract. This was to be some computer work I could do remotely. However, the company had a ferocious vetting procedure which involved engaging a nasty investigation company to dredge my background and among other things test me for drugs. OK so if I went ahead I was going to test positive for cannabis (surprise, surprise). I kept trying to think of some way I could discuss my legal medical marijuana use with them but no matter how delicately I introduced this topic, it seemed to me I was bound to suffer loss. In order for me to make this money, I would have to allow my use of medical marijuana to be outed in a public way which goes on record with this company and the sinister vetting company. Even if they agreed to hire me my medical history gets public airing. If some fuddy-duddy in the company says mmj is disqualifying then I lose completely: I get outed and I don't even get the job and income. So if I go forward I am certain to suffer injury while there is no certainty of reward. Should the price of this employment be public disclosure of details of my medical history? Eventually it seemed to me that the stress of the negotiation and the near certainty of loss of privacy made the job not worth it to me and I declined the offer. I could have simply volunteered the facts to their HR person (this company was in a non-medical state). That would be to 'come out', much as closeted gays were once urged to come out as a way to prepare the ground for eventual acceptance. What do you think of this?

I think you would get zero sympathy in a non-med state, you were right to not discuss it with them. Where your comparison to closeted gays kind of breaks down is the fact people's medical records should be kept private, even with MMJ acceptance. You need not divulge any private details accept where the job is directly affected. Would you wanted to be "outed" when you take any other form of medication?

I do long for the day when we don't have to consume in secret and all types of use, medical, recreational, whatever can be as open as alcohol and tobacco (or for that matter Tylenol and penicillin) are now.

Just strap some fake urine to your leg.

^^ but if you do that be careful. Apparently strapping a plastic dick to your leg is considered use of a "forging instrument" and will get you arrested.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/30/missouri-man-accused-of-using-fake-penis-to-pass-drug-test/

(With that said, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to game a urine test if it was in my best interest to do so.)

Mrboote is correct. Do NOT expect any sympathy from a non-med state. I live in California and part of my work involves managing human resources. I went to a half-day seminar on MMJ laws and the workplace, and basically (even here in liberal California) your medical status means nothing as it runs afoul of federal safety laws in the workplace. So since my company has a zero-tolerance drug policy, that means no exceptions for MMJ users. Period.

Stu said:

Mrboote is correct. Do NOT expect any sympathy from a non-med state. I live in California and part of my work involves managing human resources. I went to a half-day seminar on MMJ laws and the workplace, and basically (even here in liberal California) your medical status means nothing as it runs afoul of federal safety laws in the workplace. So since my company has a zero-tolerance drug policy, that means no exceptions for MMJ users. Period.

Click to expand...

X2

I tried to use my med status as a fall back method a few years when some BS happened at one of my jobs. They talked to their lawyers and said basically what Stu did Federal law doesn't recognize medical use granted by the state...... I got fired.

Do not involve your workplace or even hint at your medical use IMO

One interesting exception I know of was someone who got hired after putting the fact that he was a MMJ user on his job application. After denting a company vehicle, and testing positive in the mandatory drug screen, he was fired. Unfortunately for the company, he sued them, and won a nice settlement for wrongful termination. The only reason he had a leg to stand on was he was upfront about it in his job application and the company hired him anyways . . . obviously an oversight on their part.

Also companies entirely located in a tolerant state might be at the mercy of their insurance provider when it comes to the issue. I for one know of a few workplaces that actually give two shits if you indulge, but a piss test is required for employment.

mrboote said:

Also companies entirely located in a tolerant state might be at the mercy of their insurance provider when it comes to the issue. I for one know of a few workplaces that actually give two shits if you indulge, but a piss test is required for employment.

Click to expand...

This is precisely why my company has a zero-tolerance drug policy. It's the only way to get insurance these days.

t-dub said:

One interesting exception I know of was someone who got hired after putting the fact that he was a MMJ user on his job application. After denting a company vehicle, and testing positive in the mandatory drug screen, he was fired. Unfortunately for the company, he sued them, and won a nice settlement for wrongful termination. The only reason he had a leg to stand on was he was upfront about it in his job application and the company hired him anyways . . . obviously an oversight on their part.

Click to expand...

And this is precisely why I cannot hire a MMJ patient.... even though I am one myself.

It sucks, but I have no choice.

I have risked that way too many times. 4 years in the corps of cadets lol. i almost had too again next week (finally got an interview hahaha). was a bit nervous b/c a friend of mine used my tried and tested method (pm me if u want [note: not for the fain of heart]) and the UA caught the bogus urine. they are getting quite a bit sophisticated in some places.

But then, the same day i got the call for the interview, a bunch of people continued a party at my apt (the original host was not mj friendly... ya i pissed him off fairly bad... sometimes i get to a shade of ass that are not received well by tools lol... prob 60% of the people there had some form of illegal drug lol.) and we all smoked a bunch. and i start talking with one of they guys. One thing led to another, turns out he is on the board of the company i have the interview with. so ya... no need to strap up! and no need for an interview lol.

oh ya introduced him to the mflb and i think he might be be hooked lol. oh and hit first dab lol


NETWORKING FTW!

DreamTime said:

^^ but if you do that be careful. Apparently strapping a plastic dick to your leg is considered use of a "forging instrument" and will get you arrested.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/30/missouri-man-accused-of-using-fake-penis-to-pass-drug-test/

(With that said, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to game a urine test if it was in my best interest to do so.)

Click to expand...

I think you can only get arrested if you get caught trying to fake a piss test for parole/probation. I doubt a private company who's piss testing you has that power. Your ass just isnt getting hired. Funny shit when i got a job at costco I went in for the drug test(at the actual store) all lit with synthetic urine strapped to my leg. We get in the room and she whips out one of the saliva test ones . I am shitting bricks of course, luckily somehow my cottonmouth saved me and the test kept showing up invalid from lack of saliva LOL. So they sent me to one of the places to piss test and I used the synthetic urine and got the job .

See all this drug testing that company's do, in my opinion is a "Load of Bollocks".

What the hell has your personal life got to do with your employment...if your good at your job and not way out there while at work what has it got to do with your employer what you do in the comfort of your own home ??
You could drink a gallon of whisky and beat your wife every night and that's o.k as long as your fit for work the next day but vape a bowl or two at night and your sacked...that is way off.

harmudge said:

See all this drug testing that company's do, in my opinion is a "Load of Bollocks".

What the hell has your personal life got to do with your employment...if your good at your job and not way out there while at work what has it got to do with your employer what you do in the comfort of your own home ??
You could drink a gallon of whisky and beat your wife every night and that's o.k as long as your fit for work the next day but vape a bowl or two at night and your sacked...that is way off.

Click to expand...

Just another symptom of the disease known as the "war on drugs".

I agree...and we are all supposed to live in the lands of the free and the good...I sometimes wonder how free we really are ?

harmudge said:

I agree...and we are all supposed to live in the lands of the free and the good...I sometimes wonder how free we really are ?

Click to expand...

"land of the free", haven't seen that phrase in a while. No, we're more-so in a modern age of serfdom. Money talks, and it has a big mouth.

Drug testing is highly intrusive (we just want to get a look at your blood chemistry before we hire you). It also establishes a precedent such that it is a small step to do genetic testing and determine if someone has a predisposition to some disease, check if a lady is fertile, etc. People put up with it because they need employment but it's really odious.

Im lucky for being in IL the majority of employers Ive dealt with have a look the other way attitude as long as it doesn't interfere with performance or effect company(bringing anything on their property)

It really eats me up hearing and seeing all these instances of discrimination. Especially when I've worked in places where a performance affecting hangover is just laughed off and the persons get a pat on the back and told to take it easy

In the interview for my current job I was told that if I get injured in any way at work Im better off not reporting it because insurance will test, I wont get compensation, and will be fired if tested positive. (common sense but weird that he brought it up) Then a month or three later, like a damn fool, I got a DUI for Mj. The next day the administrator brought me in asked me to be honest, I was, and he said "ok, thanks, carry on"

This is a medical facility too btw lol

Snowlock said:

It really eats me up hearing and seeing all these instances of discrimination. Especially when I've worked in places where a performance affecting hangover is just laughed off and the persons get a pat on the back and told to take it easy

Click to expand...

I agree on that.

I'm a chef and in this industry....alcoholism and chef'ing go hand in hand.

Many years ago just after being qualified I was working under a chef who had an alcohol problem.
He would come into work stinking of drink, he even had the waitresses trained to have a pitcher of lager hidden in the kitchen for him coming in at 10am...lol...needless to say, I took it while it was there.
There was even one day when he came in still way too pissed from the night before or had been drinking since the early hours and had not slept at all, all he done most of the day was sat on a 20 litre veg oil container and barked orders while me and the other guy done most of the work...lol...nothing was said to him...if I was spliffing it up at the back door of the kitchen, I would have been sacked.

YeeeBuddy said:

I think you can only get arrested if you get caught trying to fake a piss test for parole/probation. of saliva LOL.

Click to expand...

If u get pulled over and have bogus urine you are breaking fed laws. No bueno. I'm not sure on the usual time/fine... But it can't be fun lol

Bon Dog said:

If u get pulled over and have bogus urine you are breaking fed laws. No bueno. I'm not sure on the usual time/fine... But it can't be fun lol

Click to expand...

Wait..... so you can buy it at a head shop......but can't transport it?!?

Figures makes about as much sense as most other federal drug policies

Puffers said:

Wait..... so you can buy it at a head shop......but can't transport it?!?

Figures makes about as much sense as most other federal drug policies

Click to expand...

It has to be proven that you are intentionally trying to beat a drug test. Then it is illegal. Synthetic urine can be sold for "legit" reasons, such as simply protecting your medical privacy...for fetish purposes (ask R. Kelly) and others.

I live in a prohibition state and I am a government employee, so I have to be extremely careful because if I get caught I have very little recourse. Luckily for me, court precedent in my state says that random drug testing of employees in the public sector (ie government employees) is a violation of the 4th amendment (illegal search & seizure). They can however require a test with reasonable cause to believe you have been using drugs. The only exception to this is a position where you hold someone else's life immediately in your hands, such as a police officer or bus driver. I have had an accident while working before & reported it & they never asked me to submit to a drug test because I have never smoked/vaped while I am working & no one I work with would ever assume I do even in my spare time.

That being said what I really wanted to bring up is the hypocrisy surrounding marijuana vs. alcohol. Several months ago another employee showed up at the office drunk (my job is out on the road so there was no reason for her to even be there), was instructed by her supervisor not to leave which she ignored & left anyway & was arrested on her way home for DWI. Her only punishment was a suspension (partially with pay pending an investigation).

If I were ever to be ticketed for possession, my employer would find out & I would likely lose my job. If I don't lose it, it would definitely be on the condition that I attend some sort of chemical dependency counseling or NA & I would have to submit to regular drug screenings. She on the other hand has shown up at the office reeking of booze & they were not even able to force her to submit to a breathalyzer test.

I interviewed for a seasonal job at a major company last summer. They were about to offer me the job, but then asked if I could pass a drug test. Being a frequent mj user I would have obviously tested positive for thc. Instead of lying and then preparing for a DT, I told them [truthfully]: "I don't use recreational drugs, but I do have my medical marijuana card."

I think that was the first time they heard that, since my interviewer had to go consult his supervisor. A few minutes later, I was informed that the company has a zero-tolerance drug policy.

Non MMJ state here and I actually run a company for 4 partners that are completely ignorant and would castrate me if they found out I was a "user". Some of the conversations that I've had to sit through both with piers as well as clients have made me want to vomit. When my opinion of cannabis is asked of me or how I feel about medical MJ I always reply politely with "me no speekee engrish" - only kidding - I say I think its important to look at both sides and quite honestly IMO alcohol is just as bad or even worse. I also try and change the subject to something much more comfortable and appropriate for a work setting....religion!