Marijuana legalization has been sweeping the nation for some time. While this is fantastic and long needed, it is counterproductive when certain occupations and corporations require pre-employment drug testing. After all, many medical cannabis users can’t just “give up” cannabis; it’s part of their treatment routine, just like any other drug. Not to mention the fact that you need funds to purchase your prescription!
Finding a job in this economy might be difficult enough. This is made more difficult for medicinal marijuana patients (and recreational users), who are often required to pass a drug test before getting hired.
Jobs that don’t drug test
Explore exciting career paths in fields that don’t typically implement drug testing policies, providing you the freedom to express your creativity and passion without worrying about screening hurdles. Creative and artistic domains, such as graphic design, music, and writing, welcome individuals to showcase their talents unrestricted. If you thrive in sales and customer service, many opportunities in these areas generally don’t involve mandatory drug tests. Additionally, trades and services offer various roles that focus on skills and performance rather than enforcing stringent testing. Below is the list of jobs that don’t drug test.
Freelancing
You have complete control over your hours, schedule, and salary as a freelancer. You also never have to worry about drug testing. Freelance work, from writing to accountancy to software development, is all controlled by you and your judgments. Though difficult at times, professions like these provide you with all the flexibility you could desire from a job, including the ability to use your medical cannabis without anxiety.
IT Positions
According to data, just around 3% of IT positions need drug testing. This implies that most software engineers and site designers are seldom exposed to this testing, making it a wonderful alternative for medicinal cannabis users in general. Again, as long as it is not affecting your employment performance, even white-collar professions, such as IT, are unlikely to worry whether you have an MMJ card.
Of course, this isn’t a guarantee, and not every IT firm is in the same boat. Before applying, always do your homework, speak with prior workers, and thoroughly grasp the company’s drug testing policy.
Positions in Management
Most people in positions of authority are not subjected to random drug testing. About 1-2% of firm executives report being drug tested, which varies by the professional sector.
Many believe that persons in management and senior management positions cannot possibly be MMJ cards. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Those with both management positions and MMJ cards should be OK as long as their medicinal cannabis usage does not interfere with their work performance. (Once again, each organization has a distinct viewpoint.)
Local Companies
Local companies are a fantastic area to seek employment that does not need a drug test. Small, family-owned firms often lack the means and capacity to conduct regular drug testing and are not typically concerned about cannabis usage. Of course, this is not true for every firm, but smaller local enterprises are unlikely to devote finances to frequent drug testing. Not to mention that firms like these may be more amenable to medicinal cannabis usage in the first place. They’re a good place to start.
Personal Coach
Personal trainers and fitness instructors are also often excluded from marijuana drug testing. Others may be required, although cannabis tests are seldom required by gyms or fitness facilities. Also, personal trainers, like accountants, may locate their own clientele and work for themselves.
The beauty business
Most salon and spa positions in the beauty sector are also open to cannabis users. This is due to many of the same reasons described earlier; drug testing is sometimes prohibitively expensive and turns away far too many potential individuals. Beauty professionals, like personal trainers and accountants, may often work for themselves and build clientele.
Retail Sales Associates
Retail sales personnel are rarely required to take a drug test. These positions include grocery shops, department stores, and convenience stores. The good news is that these positions are often entry-level and simple to locate. Unfortunately, these jobs are often low-paying.
What is a drug test for a job?
Employers may make safer and more informed recruiting choices by administering drug testing.
A habitual drug user may get inebriated at work, making their coworkers uncomfortable, decreasing productivity, or exhibiting other negative consequences. Employment drug testing assists your company in avoiding such hiring and creating a safe work environment.
It assists organizations in reducing employee absenteeism, increasing productivity, and preventing workplace disasters. Furthermore, they may use a drug test as a crucial factor in recruiting choices for high-risk employment jobs.
What do drug tests look for?
Employers may undertake drug testing to identify the use of substances such as.
- Barbiturates
- THC (cannabis, legalized marijuana, hash)
- Hallucinogens (LSD, magic mushrooms, peyote)
- Opiates (opium, morphine, heroin, codeine)
- Amphetamines (meth, crank, speed, ecstasy)
- Inhalants (glue, paint)
- Methadone
- Benzodiazepines
- Prescription medications (Vicodin, Oxycodone)
- Cocaine/Crack
When do employers administer drug tests?
The frequency with which a drug test is administered varies according to the organization’s needs.
Consider the following examples:
Pre-employment drug testing: To guarantee safe hiring, firms need potential employees to pass a drug test before joining the organization. It happens after the applicant gets the offer letter. Employers do not hire applicants who fail the exam.
Reasonable suspicion: If any indications and symptoms of drug misuse are noticed in an employee, employers may conduct a drug test on the suspect. Suspicious personnel is urged not to report to work until the findings are available.
After a workplace accident: If employers think a workplace accident or unpleasant incident was caused by drug use, they may conduct a drug test. In such circumstances, it is critical to have some criteria in place to decide whether or not a test will undertake.
Such occurrences include fatalities, serious injuries, and property destruction. A post-event drug test may detect drug or alcohol usage, but it cannot show that the drug or alcohol use caused the accident.
Periodic Testing: This test may be performed regularly or yearly. Physically demanding jobs are an excellent example of when frequent testing is required.
Employers may perform unannounced tests on randomly chosen persons. In this case, computers make the pick randomly to ensure that every employee has an equal probability of passing the exam.
Conclusion
Of course, we can’t guarantee that every employer in these occupations doesn’t drug test, but some are much less probable than others.
If you’re searching for a new job and are concerned about your medical marijuana usage, always take the time to learn about your state’s cannabis laws and regulations and how they protect employers. Then look at the organization itself! Finding this information is usually as simple as a few mouse clicks. Being safe and legal are always crucial considerations, and we are here to assist you in getting there.
Michael S. Bardwell, an expert in workplace drug testing, specializes in synthetic urine and its impact on drug tests. As a seasoned specimen collector, he navigates the intricate realm of drug testing laboratories certified by the Department of Health and Human Services. His insights extend to drug-free workplace programs, and he collaborates seamlessly with medical review officers (MRO) in ensuring accurate specimen collections for comprehensive drug tests.