tom169

So nothing related to why a drug test is typically performed as part of pre-employment screening.

For what its worth every US employer myself or my wife has had has increased premiums for tobacco users.

Giantaxe

Tobacco users have higher rates of medical absences. It’s not just about premium costs.

civilservant

Drug tests are to test for illicit drugs. If you don't have a prescription for medical pot (which you can prove, obviously) and it is not legal for recreational use in your state it is, by definition, an illicit drug.

No different than if you are taking loratabs without a prescription.

I don't see what the problem is. If you are saying that it shouldn't be considered an illicit drug then your problem is with state law, not the company seeking a pre-employment drug screen.

Giantaxe

There are an awful lot of things that are “illicit”. Why the fixation specifically on marijuana use?
And to use your example, do employers test for Loratabs and demand to see a prescription if detected? Ditto for a zillion other drugs that require a prescription?

civilservant

I can’t speak for other employers, but mine asks for proof of any prescriptions that are used to refute a positive result.

Because that’s what we were discussing specifically earlier in the thread….

MidAtlantic

If I was employing drivers or employees operating heavy/complex machinery I would want to test them for anything that may impair their skills. That would be for their own safety and the safety of others.

Giantaxe

So any alcohol use then?

Giantaxe

So they test for any and all prescription drugs to make sure you’re not using any “illicitly”?

civilservant

Clearly not. However most tests do check for the obvious ones that cause a 'high' and therefore are more commonly abused.

Since alcolhol is legal, no.

So let's clear this up - your position is that there should be no drugs screening? Or that they should be screening for other things? If so, what?

Giantaxe

so not about “illicit” drug use then but those that cause a “high”…

oh but alcohol causes a “high” and is much more widely abused than marijuana….

I think my position is pretty clear , namely that testing for marijuana is absurd when there is no testing for alcohol use. I realize it’s going to take a while for the predictable set of states to legalize marijuana but thankfully most of the country is there or on the way. So even this “illicit” argument - which is itself inconsistent - is going away.

civilservant

I notice that you failed to answer the question. How about you come up with a solution rather than sniping from the cheap seats? I'd genuinely like to know what your position actually is.

Giantaxe

As I’ve already said I wouldn’t pre-employment test for either marijuana or alcohol.

tom169

Depending on the role there is alcohol tests. CDL for example.

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tom169

When framed like this it screams discriminatory. Where will the list end?

Lion in Winter

Pre-employment tests for assorted substances do little in terms of safeguarding others anyway.

Anybody using anything knows to stop using for a certain amount of time beforehand.

Random regular testing after hiring might find more people, but there are very few roles where I would be comfortable with that happening.