Would I be able to pass a drug test?

[liberalpragmatist]

I've been a slightly bad boy.

This past semester at college I smoked pot twice - once in February and again in early May (2 weeks ago). I did not get high the first time, got a little high the second time. The incident in February was my first time.

I haven't smoked any pot since; I also haven't done any other illicit substances although I do drink alcohol sometimes, although I'm underrage. (I know - what a wild and debauched college life I'm leading - smoking pot once and drinking underrage a few times :eyes:.)

Anyway, my summer plans recently changed and I'm planning to work at an office I worked at a couple summers ago for 4 weeks, starting the week after next.

I don't think they'll administer a drug test, but if they do, am I safe? If not, is there anything I can do?

[flvegan]

1. No, and no.

My understanding is that pot stays in the system for over a month.

It also depends on the drug test. Urine...easier to pass. Hair? Dead meat.

That said, many employers gloss over that type of thing. I think it used to be pass/fail, but now it's A, B, C, D and F, and D still passes, and C is okay.

[NNadir]

6. Maybe and maybe. It depends on the analytical method.

It depends on the analytical equipment used. LC/MS/MS technology is getting more and more sensitive. Typically many results can be validated these days down to the picomolar level, and this (THC) is not an unusual analyte, so probably many methods have proved effective.

There are also some competitive binding assays, I'm sure, that are very, very sensitive.

Part of it depends on who's doing the testing, how much they pay, and the quality of the lab they use. (Note: I'm sure there are labs out there that give false positives, but this is another question and there isn't much one can do about it in any case.)

I haven't done this sort of analysis myself though, and I therefore do not know the detection limits.

As other posters have noted, THC is hydrophobic and is preferentially stored in fat. Therefore if you are heavy, you can lose weight, especially through vigorous exercise. Exercise is preferred to dieting, since it causes fat to burn off, particularly after long periods.

I understand that it takes about a month for THC to be flushed out of one's system completely.

I don't advise smoking pot. It's not good for you, your mind or your general health.

Before the usuals jump all over me, I am not saying I think that pot should necessarily be illegal, but I certainly don't think it is a wise thing to use.

[liberalpragmatist]

8. Oh, I have no illusions about pot

I know it's not a good excuse, but I was just curious to see what it was like to get high. I figure everybody's entitled to a little youthful experimentation.

I can't say I won't ever smoke again - I may, I may not. I didn't find it to be anything too amazing; kind of pleasant, but I feel I would be just as happy relaxing normally.

[Nikia]

10. You are more likely to fail if you burn a lot of fat right before

If you have THC stored in your fat cells liberating a lot of it right before the test can make you more likely to fail. I have heard that if you have a while before the test you should exercise and fast, but the last 3-5 days you should be more sedentary to prevent fat from being burned.
In the OP case though, he only smoked 2 times months apart so any THC in his fat probably has already been processed.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

2. Probably and yes.

Pot can stay in your system for over a month. Generally if you're a regular smoker. If you smoked once two weeks ago, then it will probably not be in your system. It gets stored in your fat cells, so if you're skinny you'll also be less likely to test positive.

If you're that concerned there's a company called Herbal Clean that makes stuff called "Quick Tabs." They work, but they may not be legal in your state. I know they're illegal in NJ, but legal in PA. However, Herbal Clean switched the language on some of their packaging so it's quasi-legal in NJ again.

[liberalpragmatist]

11. Well, I am skinny

How incriminating will a hair test be, however? I know (and other posters have mentioned) that THC can be detected in your hair for some time. So based on 3 hits from a bong two weeks ago, how much will that be detected were they to take a hair sample in a week? My hair does grow quite thick and fast - about 2 inches over the course of a month and I'm planning on getting it cut again soon anyway.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

12. I don't know anything about hair tests except they're tougher.

One of my friends actually shaved his head for a hair test though. It worked out.

[Nikia]

3. You'll probably pass

The people who take a month to get clean usually smoke regularly so that it accumulates in fat tissue. You should be alright. To be on the safe side though, be a little bit more hydrated than usual. Definietly don't go into the test dehydrated or with your first urine of the day.

[Jara sang]

4. Go to the health food store and get some 'Golden Seal'

Should clear you right up.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

5. Actually, they usually test for Goldenseal now. nt

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

7. If it's a urine sample, supposedly you can drink alot of water

and it will clean out your system. But it depends on how long as well. If it were months away, then I wouldn't worry about the urine, but hair is supposed to have a much longer record.

[Spider Jerusalem]

9. If you're not a regular cannabis user...

and you only used it the once, two weeks ago, it'll be out of your system in three to seven days. Or at least down to levels undetectable on a standard EMIT urine screen. Due to the fact that a GC/MS (gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy) test is much more expensive than an EMIT, it's generally used to confirm a positive result from an EMIT screen and not as a primary testing method.

You probably have nothing to worry about.