Drug test at possible employer - just tell them I've smoked pot before?

[slackerinabox]

To summarize:

1. Finished a phone interview for a non-medical job that has a drug test - did not know this up front until the interview(it's an installer job, 4k projectors and movie theater sorta stuff- I won't really be putting anyone's lives at risk if I smoke a doobie on a Friday night).

2. Employer loved me, we're having another interview in person this time

3. I've smoked weed. Shit, I don't personally know anyone who hasn't at least once in filthy liberal, decriminalized NYC. I *believe* it'll be a follicle test based on their hr page.

4. I'm not a dishonest person, nor do I care about the job enough to come up with some elaborate scheme to get around the test.

5. I've only really been job searching for a week, but I don't feel I should just flake on the interview

So, what would you do - tell them before any drug test to not waste anyone's time, skip out on the whole thing, or take the test and explain afterwards?

**weird update 03/2016**

So I canceled that interview, overbearing HR aside I didn't want to deal with the drive. Something judgy and republican was said in the thread about 'self medicating' with pot, and how I should be seeking professional advice instead of smoking pot. I saw the logic in that so scheduled an appointment with a shrink and was completely honest with her, telling her about my pot use and former drinking habit. I explained how I was always tired physically while my mind was always doing the opposite, and that I stopped ADHD treatment in the past because adderall made me an angrier, more efficient jerk and went as far as being honest about sexual side effects. She was incredible, and addressed my concerns with a mellow, sexual disfunction free blend of low milligram anti-anxiety and adhd meds that don't tend to cause agitation/aggression. She also didn't judge my pot use, and immedietly said I was self medicating for anxiety and said I'd be over the need in weeks. Class friggin act.

She also suggested that I immediately see a cardiologist, and I broke tradition and actually followed through. It was a good decision because my resting bpm was intense and my blood pressure out of whack. Explains the headaches I smoked pot to get rid of. He put me on a very mild dose of blood pressure control meds and the headaches are gone and the fast heart beat mellowing out.

I also have not craved a cigarette and smoke less pot, I'm weening myself but am in no rush to quit cold turkey, I believe it has it's uses and shouldn't be vilified. . I need to get back to the workforce so it doesn't fit, but I may just end up a stoner when I retire I'm also not constantly chasing energy through snickers, I've lost 6 pounds so far. I am tired, but my heart's pumping at a gentler pace so I think I have to just get used to the pace and that it's not really exhaustion, and it can take up to 6 weeks for me to feel the full benefits.

PSA - go to the doctors. I feel like an idiot for not going sooner.

pluggins away on the job search, but I'm a hell of a lot less stressed out

 

[ControlD]

So the real issue is that you have smoked week recently? I don't think it stays in your system for a long time.

That's a tough one. If you think you are going to fail the test, might as well be up front about it.

 

[slackerinabox]

So the real issue is that you have smoked week recently? I don't think it stays in your system for a long time.

That's a tough one. If you think you are going to fail the test, might as well be up front about it.

Full disclosure - yes. I self medicate for social anxiety disorder (I used to take lexapro, which made me gain 50 pounds and made peeing difficult, bad scene) but, beyond justifications, I enjoy it (I don't drink, quit nicotine and have been dieting - pot is literally my only vice)

Since I smoked as recently as last week I'm fairly certain I'll fail. I'm not on any form of public assistance (including unemployment) so calm down republicans I'm mostly thinking disclosure would benefit the employer not me - why waste time if they have a zero-tolerance policy? My wife's opinion is to see how things go and to disclose at the time of the test, not before

 

[kranky]

The key piece of info is knowing whether failing the test is an automatic no-hire, or whether it's just a factor in the hiring decision. If your research based on the type of test and your usage indicates you would most certainly fail, and if failing=no-hire, then skip the whole thing. It would be a waste of everyone's time.

 

[KeithTalent]

I'm always shocked that this is a thing in the United States of America.

KT

 

[ControlD]

I'm always shocked that this is a thing in the United States of America.

KT

They do some drug testing in Canada too, but maybe that's just American companies?

I suppose it all goes back to our puritan origins. Everybody does (something evil) but nobody is allowed to admit it.

 

[purbeast0]

lol... OP makes it sound like you've done it once or twice in your life, 3rd post makes it sound like you do it daily

if it were me i'd just be honest with them about it. being upfront about stuff is always better than trying to slide it past people. it will also build trust if they don't think it's that big of a deal.

your test isn't going to be at company head quarters or anything, it's going to be in some lab, so disclosing it at the time to the lab technician isn't going to mean anything. they won't care at all, they just want your sample to run tests on.

 

[LPCTech]

Failing a drug test is almost always automatic no hire, if you test positive on a pre-employment drug test it will show up in a background check for years and you will be Fk'd out of jobs for a long time. Tell them you changed your mind about the job but thanks anyway. Get yourself clean(usually 44 days) and then apply for jobs.

I know. Trust me. DO NOT FAIL a pre-employment drug test. skip that job till you are clean. its just 44 days (not 30 like everyone thinks)

 

[LPCTech]

lol... OP makes it sound like you've done it once or twice in your life, 3rd post makes it sound like you do it daily

if it were me i'd just be honest with them about it. being upfront about stuff is always better than trying to slide it past people. it will also build trust if they don't think it's that big of a deal.

your test isn't going to be at company head quarters or anything, it's going to be in some lab, so disclosing it at the time to the lab technician isn't going to mean anything. they won't care at all, they just want your sample to run tests on.

This advice will screw you incredibly hard. fyi

 

[slackerinabox]

Failing a drug test is almost always automatic no hire, if you test positive on a pre-employment drug test it will show up in a background check for years and you will be Fk'd out of jobs for a long time. Tell them you changed your mind about the job but thanks anyway. Get yourself clean(usually 44 days) and then apply for jobs.

I know. Trust me. DO NOT FAIL a pre-employment drug test. skip that job till you are clean. its just 44 days (not 30 like everyone thinks)

Is there a pre-employment "permanent record?" It's not a criminal thing to show up on a background check, is there really a national database?

 

[LPCTech]

Is there a pre-employment "permanent record?" It's not a criminal thing to show up on a background check, is there really a national database?

Well... I just searched a bit and perhaps Im wrong. :sneaky:

I think that since hippa laws its no longer the case.

but I personally wouldnt risk it.

This site in the third paragraph says it does show up: http://www.datacheckinc.com/background-check.php

One also wants to be as sure as possible that an employee will be the kind of colleague one wants to keep around. No employer seeks out an employee who has a history littered with firings. Such facts, however, can sometimes be hard to determine from a person's resume and interview alone.
That's why a background check from Datacheck will give you the broadest picture of a potential employee's background record, including drug test results, driving record, nationwide sex offender registry status, criminal record, and employment history.

I would ask a local lawyer and err on the side of caution

 

[KeithTalent]

They do some drug testing in Canada too, but maybe that's just American companies?

I suppose it all goes back to our puritan origins. Everybody does (something evil) but nobody is allowed to admit it.

Haha. Yeah you might be right. I've never met a single person who has had to do it and it's just not something I ever hear about up here.

KT

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Not being an expert but I'm confident most employers don't care about the weed result.
As a previous Telcom hiring manager I can't think of one candidate that was barred due to the drug test. I highly doubt nobody I hired ever smoked weed.

 

[slackerinabox]

Not being an expert but I'm confident most employers don't care about the weed result.
As a previous Telcom hiring manager I can't think of one candidate that was barred due to the drug test. I highly doubt nobody I hired ever smoked weed.

Would you have preferred disclosure ahead of time or does that set off unnecessary red flags? I suppose I'm overthinking this based on your feedback, thanks for chiming in!

 

[slackerinabox]

lol... OP makes it sound like you've done it once or twice in your life, 3rd post makes it sound like you do it daily
.

OP = "defend against atot puritans
Followup - "fuck it, I like weed and am not ashamed of my habit that's costing less than my prior cigarette addiction and doing less physical harm"

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Would you have preferred disclosure ahead of time or does that set off unnecessary red flags? I suppose I'm overthinking this based on your feedback, thanks for chiming in!

I could care less and from experience I can't think of one hiring manager that would care about weed. The test was the final thing that needed to happen before the job offer its a required HR function.

 

[SearchMaster]

Not being an expert but I'm confident most employers don't care about the weed result.
As a previous Telcom hiring manager I can't think of one candidate that was barred due to the drug test. I highly doubt nobody I hired ever smoked weed.

Yeah but there's a difference between "has in the past" and "still does often".

Do you know if they will be plucking a hair at the next interview or potentially sending you to an external lab? I would probably take my chances and follow through...if they do end up sampling you before it's out of your system I would call the hiring manager and tell them you did toke up while you were unemployed but it's not a regular thing (snicker), and offer to have another test done at your expense after it's out of your system.

Yeah it shouldn't be a big deal especially for that line of work but you never know how serious an employer is about it.

 

[Daedalus685]

Haha. Yeah you might be right. I've never met a single person who has had to do it and it's just not something I ever hear about up here.

KT

It is more complicated here in Canada. You can't just randomly test people as a condition of employment (Supreme court ruling 2013 - RE:Irving Pulp and Paper Ltd.). Though it varies by province.

It is considered a medical test, which is only permitted for positions where health may affect the ability to do a job safely (EMS, heavy machine operator, etc..) or where a pre-existing drug problem has been demonstrated on a work site. In most cases it is considered discrimination and they are not allowed to base a hiring decision on it. i.e. you have to be offered the job in writing first, with a condition placed on it if you do not pass a medical. They can't use it as part of the interview.

 

[ControlD]

I could care less and from experience I can't think of one hiring manager that would care about weed. The test was the final thing that needed to happen before the job offer its a required HR function.

I think it depends on the job. Where I work people are dealing with heavy machinery and other dangerous conditions so we absolutely care. I think we have to, there would be lawsuits otherwise. If you are ever involved in a work related accident it is also a mandatory drug test at that point.

 

[LPCTech]

IMO its not worth the risk of having a long term stain on my record just to smoke.

Better safe than sorry.

The risk to reward ratio is all off.

risk = long term stain on record, no employment
reward = you get to smoke pot

If it all goes sideways you will regret it. Just sayin, good luck tho.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Yeah but there's a difference between "has in the past" and "still does often".

Do you know if they will be plucking a hair at the next interview or potentially sending you to an external lab? I would probably take my chances and follow through...if they do end up sampling you before it's out of your system I would call the hiring manager and tell them you did toke up while you were unemployed but it's not a regular thing (snicker), and offer to have another test done at your expense after it's out of your system.

Yeah it shouldn't be a big deal especially for that line of work but you never know how serious an employer is about it.

Maybe but it didn't appear to be that important at a fortune 25 Telcom company.

 

[Stopsignhank]

At my work they do not tell people about the drug test until after they offer you the job. They don't want people to get those drug test pass kits. If you fail, no job. Plain and simple. If the place you are interviewing with has it on their website then they are serious about the drug test. No pass = no job.

 

[PenguinPower]

New York provides a discount on Worker's Compensation insurance for those that participate in the "Drug Free Workplace Program." There is required testing pre-employment and post-accident. This usually results in companies automatically terminating employment or denying employment for any positive drug screens, though there are some exceptions.

 

[SP33Demon]

I'm always shocked that this is a thing in the United States of America.

KT

Are you also surprised that the U.S. has the best economy in the world as well? If you're on smack, it's a good thing for an employer to know about. Weed may not as big of a deal, but how does an employer know if it's a 24/7 addiction or something you only do on weekends? They err on the side of caution with zero tolerance because you cannot rely on people to be truthful.

 

[pete6032]

Great username.