Marijuana Drug Testing: The Ultimate Guide

Marijuana Drug Test

Drug testing has become an industry-standard in most countries and marijuana, or rather THC levels are what is most commonly tested.
Even though some countries have already made recreational marijuana use legal, the law still permits employers to deny employment to someone based on a failed THC drug test. It is for this reason that many people have started seeking a fool-proof method to pass a drug test, even if the time frame to do so is very short.

The only foolproof way to pass a marijuana test is to abstain from this substance. All the so-called detox products that claim removing cannabis metabolites faster do not guarantee any results. Using them may be considered as a violation of law.

Marijuana detection times based on usage

  • One time— 5-8 days
  • 2-4 times per month— 11-18 days
  • 2-4 times per week— 23-35 days
  • 5-6 times per week— 33-48 days
  • Daily usage— 49-63 days

The Top Marijuana Drug Tests

DrugConfirm™ CLIA THC Urine Drug Test Dip Card

Workplace/Schools/Forensic

marijuana drug test dip cardThe DrugConfirm™ CLIA THC urine drug test dip card is designed to detect levels of THC in the blood. This kit is built for fast and reliable results and allows one to run simple and effective drug test operations with accurate results. The DrugConfirm™ CLIA THC Urine Drug Test Dip Card can be used in different situations such as schools and workplaces. Its fast action allows or a quick and effective drug testing operation.

10 Panel DrugConfirm™ CLIA Urine Drug Test Cup

Workplace/Schools/Forensic

urine drug test cupWhen looking for a quick and reliable drug testing kit, one can easily rely on the 10 Panel DrugConfirm™ CLIA Urine Drug Test Cup. It is built to help detect an array of illicit drugs such as amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, methadone, or marijuana. This makes the 10 Panel DrugConfirm™ CLIA Urine Drug Test Cup ideal for workplace testing.

5 Panel SalivaConfirm™ Premium Saliva Drug Test

Home/Workplace/Forensic

saliva mrijuana testThe 5 Panel SalivaConfirm™ Premium Saliva Drug Test is designed to offer reliable and accurate results from just testing the saliva. It can be used for different drug tests and provides fast results. These drugs include amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, marijuana, and methamphetamines.

Types of Drug Tests that Detect Marijuana

It is important to define first what kinds of drug tests exist and how do they work. Primarily, any drug test performed will include testing for marijuana as well. Take note that some tests can be performed at random and on a rapid notice since they are straightforward to conduct.

1. Saliva Marijuana Drug Testing

A saliva drug test is by far the easiest to conduct, and it provides results in the shortest amount of time. This has made it popular as a quick test during an employment interview or a random workplace test. Despite it being fairly quick to give results, it should by no means be considered inaccurate.

How is the test conducted?

  • The test is conducted by inserting a small brush or a cotton swab between the gums and lower cheek of the person being tested.
  • The swab is then moved over the gums and under the tongue for a few minutes to collect a saliva sample from all areas of the mouth.
  • After that, the swab is placed in a test tube for a few minutes, and if the liquid inside the tube changes color, the results will be considered positive.
  • Alternatively, instead of a swab, an absorbent strip can be used, which is placed between the gums and lower cheek and which will change color after a few minutes if the results are positive.

How long will marijuana be detectable by a saliva drug test?

The upside of this test, from a test taker’s point of view, is that marijuana will be detectable in saliva for a maximum of 72 hours. This, of course, depends on several factors such as height, weight, metabolism rate, and frequency of smoking. The frequency of smoking plays the most vital role in this case since somebody who smokes less than once per month will clear out THC from their saliva in as little as 12 hours.

Are there any ways of passing a saliva drug test successfully?

Those who are preparing for saliva drug testing may search some ways of accelerating the withdrawal of the drug from the organism to pass the test successfully. However, it has not been proven that these methods can help pass the marijuana test if it has been taken recently.

  • Some users try last-minute detox or cleansing options – this is better suited for people who are working against the clock. While THC clears out from saliva relatively quickly, there is always a possibility of a test being administered at random and on short notice. There are many products in the form of bubblegum or mouthwash that are marketed to clear out toxins in a short amount of time, and leave the saliva sample clean for around 6 hours after using them. However, using such products is an attempt to cheat on the drug test and may cause legal complications.
  • Natural cleansing options may also work, and it mainly consists of abstaining from smoking for a few days. To bolster chances of passing the test successfully, it is advisable to hydrate regularly and to exercise, as THC is fat-soluble and exercising will help to metabolize the toxins quicker. Another good thing to do during this period is to stay away from junk and fatty food and to eat products that are rich in vitamins, like leafy vegetables and most fruits.
Abstinence from smoking together with hydration, proper nutrition, and exercising are the best ways to detoxify the body. The use of additional substances or other methods of falsifying a drug test may result in legal liability.

2. Urine Marijuana Drug Testing

Urine drug test or urinalysis is by far the most common way of testing for any illegal substance, including marijuana. While it cannot be performed on such a quick notice as a saliva drug test since the sample has to be tested in a laboratory, its detection time is longer, and the cleaning process needs to be more thorough.

What is the procedure for a urine drug test?

Procedure for a urine drug test:

  • Employer schedules an appointment at a clinic or laboratory
  • Applicant arrives at the appointed time and is given a container to collect the sample. The applicant may be monitored while producing the sample to ensure its authenticity
  •  Test results should be available to the employer within a few days

How is the test conducted?

  • The employer will usually schedule a test for in the local clinic or laboratory.
  • One will come to the clinic at the appointed time and will be given a container to provide the sample.
  • Depending on the level of control one will be given an amount of time to provide a urine sample, and in some cases, one might be even monitored while doing so to prevent tampering with the sample.
  • After the sample is given, it will be brought to the laboratory for testing, and the employer will be notified of the results in a couple of days.

How long will marijuana be detectable by urine drug test?

As opposed to saliva test which is made with the purpose of testing for recent marijuana use, the urine test can determine if the test taker has used marijuana for as long as 30 days from the last consumption. Again, this time depends on factors like frequency of smoking, body fat content and metabolism rate, but in most cases, it takes more than two weeks to clear out the THC from the urine.

Successful passing a urine drug test: is it possible?

Since the urine test is the most common type of test, users found some options to pass it. However, all of them do not guarantee 100% success in passing the drug test, and there is always a chance to identify a substance that once entered the body.

  • Natural detox process – as with the saliva test, the detox program for urine drug test consists of the same steps with some added things that can speed up the process. Bear in mind that the cleansing process for urine testing usually lasts 2 to 3 times as long as the one for a saliva test since THC remains in the urine for a more extended period. There are detox products all over the internet that claim to help quicken this process when used in conjunction with proper hydration, diet, exercise, and abstinence from marijuana for the duration of cleansing. However, such products do not guarantee the full detoxification, and using them may be considered as an attempt to cheat the drug test. It is better to avoid such products.
  • Last-minute detox process – in this case, one will be looking to expel the THC from urine for just enough time to give a sample. There are several different methods for this, according to such products’ manufacturers. However, using them is not completely safe and legal.
  • Specialized detox products – some products are advertised to cleanse urine of THC for a certain period, allowing to give a “clean” sample. Most of these have mixed reviews which could be explained by the fact that these products can indeed work, albeit on a lower concentration of THC. Casual smokers and people who already had some time pass from their last smoking session and went through a detox process will more likely succeed with these products than people who smoked the night before the test.
  • Niacin (Vitamin B3)– taking niacin pills has been reported to increase the rate at which the body expels THC by quickening the metabolic rate of fats which contain deposits of it. Take a note that niacin can have nasty side effects like skin rash and swelling and should be taken in a controlled manner. It is also easily detectable in the urine sample. Trying to cheat the drug test this way will cause legal consequences.
  • There is a “Sure Jell aka Certo” method also known. Some use pectin, which is a component of Sure-Jell and Certo brands, fruit pectin products. This pectin affects the solubility of THC metabolites. However, it is reported by users, that this method is not always useful. Moreover, using it can be considered a drug test fraud.
  • Some users reported using synthetic urineThe main issue of this method is that one has to find a way to get the synthetic urine inside the clinic and pass it as a sample since most clinics have strict control to prevent this from happening. 
Using synthetic urine as well as any other ways of falsification test results is illegal, so there is a high risk of being brought to legal liability.

3. Blood Marijuana Drug Testing

Contrary to urine and saliva drug tests that look for metabolites (substances that our body transforms toxins into), blood test looks for actual drug traces which makes it more suitable for determining current intoxication level rather than long-term consumption. The fact that the test itself is quite expensive compared to others and has to be done by a licensed medical expert makes this test the least popular one of the four.

How is the test conducted?

  1. The employer will usually schedule a test in the local clinic or laboratory.
  2. One will come to the clinic at the appointed time, and a blood sample will be taken by a licensed medical expert, usually from a forearm vein.
  3. After the sample is taken, it will be brought to the laboratory for testing, and the employer will be notified of the results in a couple of days.

How long will marijuana be detectable by blood drug test?

Since this test looks for traces of THC rather than its metabolite, the time it takes the body to cleanse is dramatically reduced. For a casual smoker 2 – 3 days will be enough to clean out all the THC in 99% of the time. Heavy smokers (more than three smoking sessions per week) will have to wait up to 7 days to make sure that their blood is “clean.”

 Marijuana blood drug test: can it be passed?

The best way to pass a marijuana blood test is to abstain from smoking for four days as a casual user, or 10+ days as a heavy user, while hydrating and eating properly. Using a specialized detox product are unlikely to work just as well as with urine test. Given that blood tests take time to schedule and have a short detection time, one will usually have more than enough headway to detox the body naturally. However, if time does not permit to do this, there are last-minute detox products that claim that they may help. Bear in mind that such things are not completely legal to use.

4. Hair Marijuana Drug Testing

Out of all the drug tests, a hair test is the hardest one to beat, and it also has the most extended detection period. The upside to it, from the test taker’s point of view, is that it can only detect THC and its metabolites five days after the last use.

How is the test conducted?

  1. The employer will also schedule a test in the local clinic or laboratory.
  2. One will come to the clinic at the appointed time, and a have a hair sample taken.
  3. The hair sample is a thin cutaway from the back of the head, usually 1.5 inches from the scalp.
  4. If one has short hair or are bald, any other body hair will suffice.
  5. After the sample is taken, it will be brought to the laboratory for testing, and the employer will be notified of the results in a couple of days.

How long will marijuana be detectable by a hair drug test?

Considering that every half-inch of the hair represents one month worth of hair growth, this method can determine if one smoked marijuana months, even years before the test is carried out depending on the length of the hair. Luckily, usually only the 1.5 inches closest to the scalp are taken, which represent the last 90 days before the sample being taken.

Is it possible to pass a hair marijuana drug test?

Since hair takes nutrients from the body and mainly the blood to grow, and the metabolites become a stable part of  hair this way, there are only two proven methods aside from abstaining from smoking for 90 days, which will help the test negative.

The first method is medical-level hair detox, or so-called “Macujo Method.” Some users wash the hair with certain shampoos, white vinegar, and other ingredients.

However, this method might be dangerous as the scalp is susceptible, and any experiments with detergents, and especially vinegar, can lead to allergic reactions, burns, or even hair loss.

The second possible way of passing a hair drug test is to shave all the hair. This method is also not advisable as coming to a hair test without a hair on the body will raise suspicion.

No matter what drug test one is about to take, there are always methods that can raise chances of testing negative. The best method for all of these is obviously abstinence from smoking since the body will naturally clean itself up if given enough time.

It is highly recommended not to try tricking the drug tests since there is a high probability of ending up with legal problems. It is also recommended to avoid cannabis consumption and using any substances for non-medical purposes.
Sources:
  1. Cannabinoid Screen and Confirmation (Urine), https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=cannabinoid_screen_urine
  2. Urine Testing for Detection of Marijuana: An Advisory, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000138.htm

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