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Drug Testing After Cannabis Vacation. Should You Worry?

Cannabis is becoming more mainstream as its legalization is spreading across the world. This has brought about a new kind of tourism called cannabis vacation. This trip allows you to take a break and unwind without quitting your weed. But what happens when you go back home and return to your work? Can you get drug tested and fired in case you fail?


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drug testing after cannabis vacation

While it is true that many states have softened their stand on marijuana to create opportunities for tourism, it isn’t as simple as it looks. As a traveler, you can smoke weed or eat edibles in California or Colorado where it is legal to do so, but if you fail a drug test at work after you go back home, you could be fired. The legal activity does not seem so legal anymore.

Employers have the right to fire employees if they find traces of marijuana in their system. It does not matter where it comes from. A random drug test requested by your employer after cannabis vacation could cost you your job.

This is why you should know the drug testing policy of the company you work for before going for a cannabis vacation. In some cases, it is even useful to get legal advice to ensure that you don’t get it wrong. The fact that you use marijuana legally does not guarantee that you will not be held liable for it.

How Long Does THC Stay in Your System?

THC is fat-soluble, which means that it binds to the fat cells and is gradually eliminated from the body when they are burned. It takes time, so THC can be detected in drug tests long after use even if a person is not impaired at the time of the test.

In most cases, blood tests are the most accurate and this is what you will likely need to submit if you are suspected of impaired driving. THC can remain in the blood of habitual marijuana users for 24 hours after their last smoke.

Urine and saliva are most commonly used for testing in the workplace. In urine tests, THC byproducts can be identified after 3-4 days or even weeks when the person is a heavy user. Detection time of THC in saliva is 24 to 72 hours.

How This May Affect You

If you choose to go on a cannabis vacation for a weekend to smoke a joint and go back to work on Monday, you will fail a drug test if your employer decides to conduct it. In this case, you will get fired even though marijuana was consumed in a place that allows users to take it legally.

In another case, imagine you live in a state where having any amount of THC in your system while driving is considered as driving under the influence. And it doesn’t matter if you are impaired or not. You smoke on a weekend in California and wait a while so the effects can wear off and drive back home. Then you get into an accident and THC is detected in your system. You may be found guilty even though marijuana consumption had nothing to do with the accident.

To be honest, this is not a very common occurrence but a worst-case scenario. However, there have been real cases where cannabis users have been punished for their previous 100% legal use. You should keep that in mind.

What Can You Do to Pass a Drug Test after Cannabis Vacation?

The steps listed below will help you enjoy your cannabis vacation without the fear of losing your job when it is over.

  • Don’t consume cannabis for two days before going back to work.
  • Drink a lot of water. Experts recommend drinking 70 to 100 ounces of water every day.
  • Avoid junk foods and eat healthy. This will help reduce the deposition of THC in fat cells.
  • Exercise. Physical activity speeds up the body's metabolism.
  • Use THC detox products. They are very efficient in removing toxins from your body and very popular among cannabis users who want to pass a drug test.