Cannabis Test - What a cannabis test finds

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the active ingredient in cannabis that produces the “high”. Cannabis tests therefore attempt to detect THC or its breakdown products such as THC-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) in the body. These degradation products are also known as metabolites.

At its simplest, a test makes a statement about whether or not a person has used marijuana. So that’s a simple yes/no answer. This is enough, for example, for parents who want to ensure that their minor children are drug-free. Some test methods can provide even more accurate results. Then it can be deduced how much, how often and also in what form cannabis was consumed. One problem for, say, the police at present is that there is no rapid test that can provide a reliable indication of acute intoxication. In the case of alcohol, we know the Breathalyzer tests, which can be used to determine quite well how drunk a person is at the moment. With their help, sensible limit values can not only be introduced, but also enforced. That does not currently exist with cannabis. Instead, the readings are used to determine whether a person is believed to be a regular marijuana user. If the test comes back positive, in the worst case it is automatically assumed that the “driving ability is limited”. Possible cannabis testing methods

• Urine screening is the most common. Here, in the case of cannabis, degradation products (metabolites) such as THC-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) are sought.
• Saliva tests, in turn, look for direct evidence of THC. The sample is collected via oral swab. This is quick and easy. Therefore, it is suitable for traffic controls by the police, for example.
• A blood test, on the other hand, can be very accurate and help detect an acute state of intoxication. However, this only works in a very short time window. In addition, blood tests are only used in exceptional cases because they are costly and require a considerably larger intervention than, for example, the saliva test. In this respect, they are mainly used when, for example, the police suspect a crime has been committed or in other, similarly serious cases.
• The hair test (hair follicle test), in turn, can fundamentally reveal whether a person is using drugs and, if so, which ones. However, the result does not provide any information on whether someone is currently under the influence of drugs or not at that moment.

This is how long cannabis is detectable

How long cannabis is detectable depends on how frequently a person uses marijuana and other THC-containing products, how quickly their body processes it, and which test is used. In general, cannabis is detectable for much longer than other intoxicants and narcotics.

• Urine tests: This tests for THC carboxylic acid. When consumed once, it works for up to 36 hours. If consumed several times, it is five to seven days. For people who use THC regularly, it is several weeks and up to a month.
• Saliva test (mouth swab): Since this is a direct search for THC, this is only possible for a few hours to a maximum of a few days.
• Blood test: THC itself is only detectable for about four to six hours. The degradation product THC-carboxylic acid remains in the blood longer. Single use is one to three days, multiple use is three to seven days, and regular use is easily several weeks.
• Hair test: Theoretically, cannabis use could still be detected many months later, as the degradation products are integrated into the hair.

Tests only reliable to a limited extent

The reliability of the tests is highly variable.

• The urine test can primarily determine whether or not someone has used marijuana. But even here there is a risk of delivering false hits. More precise statements can only be made to a limited extent with this test. Thus, each person has a different metabolism. Means: How fast and to what extent substances are processed varies. Diet, exercise and age also have an impact on test results.
• The saliva test is suitable for finding out what drugs a person has recently consumed. However, the reliability for cannabis here is not as high as for other narcotics such as cocaine or amphetamines.
• Blood tests, as already mentioned, have a high accuracy, but must also be performed quickly.
• Last but not least, the hair test is rather uncommon for cannabis and is not considered very reliable.

What about CBD and other hemp products?

The biggest problem with some tests is their susceptibility to false positives: they appear to detect THC use when in fact they do not. The use of a hemp shampoo could, for example, lead to such a falsified result in a hair test, writes physician Valeria Dahm on netdoktor.de. Another issue concerns products with CBD: this does not induce intoxication like THC and does not lead to a positive cannabis test. However, CBD products may contain small amounts of THC. Here it is important to at least pay attention to the label and its information. It should be noted, however, that the values given there may be inaccurate.

Cannabis drug test pass

There is basically only one sure way to pass a cannabis test: stop using in time. Anything that gets the metabolism going and makes it easier helps. These include plenty of exercise, sufficient water intake and fiber in the diet. Depending on the amount of consumption and the type of test, the person must become and remain abstinent up to one month beforehand.

Who may request a drug test?

When it comes to who may request a drug test and in what circumstances, we enter the realm of legal imponderables. In this respect, we can only provide an overview here. For advice in individual cases, a lawyer is there. In principle, there is a right of personality. This means: overwhelmingly, you cannot force a person to take a drug test. But this is not an absolute right; there are certain limitations. In addition, a voluntary drug test may be a basic requirement to start or keep a job under certain circumstances. So you can refuse the test, but then you may have to live with the consequences of this refusal.

One example is professions with high responsibility, especially for other people’s lives. Doctors, train drivers or pilots come to mind. But a colleague with an alcohol, cannabis or other drug problem can also pose a danger in other tasks, for example to other employees.

An example here is the examination by the company doctor. The may be necessary to determine a person’s fitness to work. It is especially urgent when there is an initial suspicion that someone has a drug problem that could be a danger to others. The company doctor has a duty of confidentiality here, just like any other doctor. Thus, he or she cannot tell the company exactly what came up on a drug test without the consent of the person being tested. However, there are two limitations to this:

Ultimately, then: In many cases, you do not have to consent to a drug test. It must also not be done surreptitiously, for example, in the course of a general health examination. Nevertheless, one cannot rest one hundred percent on it. In case of doubt, the opinion of an attorney specializing in labor law should be sought.

• First, the company physician will still make a statement about whether or not the person is fit for work without giving exact reasons.
• Secondly, the company physician is released from the duty of confidentiality if there is a concrete danger to life and limb.