[SyntaxError]

As most of us already know there was a bill, AB2279, that passed through all the appropriate channels and found its way to governor Schwarzenegger's desk to which he promptly vetoed. This bill would have protected medical cannabis patients from employment discrimination, it assured that testing positive for THC could not warrant denial of or loss of employment. Well since then the governors opinion may have changed as he stated he would be interested in meeting with a committee that would discuss cannabis and not just the medical aspect, but general taxation and regulation to adults! We shall soon see whether this is an attempt at a bolstered image or a serious inclination towards reform. Until then Ive compiled some useful tips for those in need of them.

1. Remain discreet.
Not disclosing your status as a medical cannabis patient is not against the law. They wont ask you so just dont volunteer the information. If your prospective/current job requires a test or assessment to be taken that asks if you engage in illegal narcotics answer no even if cannabis is on a provided list of examples. Your medicine is not illegal.

2. Contact the tester.
If you know for a fact your prospective/current job requires drug screening then find out what company they use for testing. Contact the testing company and ask if they accept legal doctors recommendations for cannabis. Make sure you ask someone who actually knows and not just a receptionist making a guess.

3. Obtain a marinol script.
If the testing company does accept legal doctors recommendations then go to your recommending doctor and ask for a marinol script. The reason you need this is because the few testing companys that do accept recommendations consider smoking dried product a narcotic but marinol is seen as pharmaceutical even though they are basically the same thing.

4. Remain discreet.
I know Ive already stated this but it is important to remember. Dont tell the testing company you inhale smoke and dont tell your prospective/current job anything. Even though the person hiring/reviewing your employment may like you it is not within their hands, for insurance purposes they need that piece of paper stating you have been tested and are drug free.

One of the testing companies I spoke with actually asked me what my ailment was, after explaining the reasons I need marinol (remember, you dont smoke) the consultant told me "Thats not what marinol is for, we cant accept your recommendation." which promptly destroyed my prospective job. I should have remembered to remain discreet and not volunteer the information, if they insisted I would ask to speak to someone else such as a manager or supervisor. All they need to know is what youre taking and if you have the legal documentation supporting its use. Why you take your medicine is your own personal business.

I hope my negative experiences aid you to positive ones. Good luck and remain vigilant and safe!

[moonrocks]

Great tips!! I've never thought of contacting the testing company. Thanks for posting this for everyone!

[shecky7]

Thanks for the tips! Hey, consider this also. The information trail has to begin discretion at an earlier point in the offer/acceptance of any contract than this. You can always make a private agreement with the company to waive all benefits and insurance for a higher salary. A private agreement removes the 'legal' need for insurance, PISS TESTS, etc. All the bad things we hate so much about being employed. A entrepreneur or smart owner of any business will recognize the higher level of understanding of money and they value that in business-money talks- I hear around town. I for one am unemployable. I do still utilize my resource I have at my disposal-my body-but to be employed is to be an employee. An employee is a governmental agency. Hence the taxes, the statutes, the license. Which is a voluntary right since to be enslaved involuntarily is, well, slavery. You have to volunteer. I will not volunteer into that contract as I feel the hinderances far outweigh the responsibility that is necessary if you are removed from the corporate jurisdiction. We are the source of energy and the seat of legit government. Sorry to get kind of off-topic. Thanks again for the thoughtful post! I hated dealing with 'human resources'. Ew!

[eris]

Great advice, thank you!

[Ingreenfields]

Very informative TY.

[dankdog]

good stuff i hope this starts a new way for us with our employment thank you for the helpfull info.

[Phaze]

Originally Posted by moonrocks

Great tips!! I've never thought of contacting the testing company. Thanks for posting this for everyone!

Great INFO!!!

[sco_pet]

Very good info!! Thats as accurate as my experience...almost. The clinic accepted it,but the employer said it was against their insurance.

[MiddleOfNowhere]

Originally Posted by shecky7

You can always make a private agreement with the company to waive all benefits and insurance for a higher salary.

Not 100% sure this is what you mean, but when a company drug tests for insurance reasons, it has nothing to do with insurance benefits.

Those insurance requirements are for the companies own liability insurance, which are often mandatory for their industry.