The strides of modern cannabis laws are tangible, to say the least. Almost everyday, there seems to be a new change or variation to existing laws. Many of these are in favor of the famed plant. Take the 2018 Farm Bill. Once passed, hemp became legal on a federal, and thus national level.
Hemp based products began popping up all over. Marijuana hasn’t seen as much progress, on the other hand. Even with recreational and medical being legal in certain states, restrictions are prevalent. But what about in states that have legalized it across the board? What impact does this have on factors like urine tests? Read on to learn more!
The Impact Of State Legalization
It’s first important to point out that marijuana is still illegal on the federal scale. That said, more and more states are decriminalizing it to greater lengths. So does that mean people who get drug tested in those states are clear to use it? Unfortunately, no.
Employers can still test for cannabis use, and the implications can be dire. Reprimand, probation, and possible termination are all possible. At this point, if your job requires a passing drug test, your best bet is abstaining to avoid any damage.
What Triggers A Failed Urine Test
As Riley notes in the above clip, it isn’t actually THC that the urine tests are looking for. It’s instead looking the metabolites produced after the THC binds with CB1 receptors. “This process mainly occurs in the liver. This is where we have special enzymes called cytochrome enzymes. These are able to add special functional groups to molecules so it’s easy for your body to get rid of them.”
You can produce these after eating, vaping, smoking, or any other form of consuming it. Watch the clip above for a deeper, more chemical based dive into the topic.
Other Kinds Of Drug Tests
As you may know, there are many different kinds of drug tests. Urine is just the tip of the iceberg. Some instances require a hair follicle test, or even a blood test. To note, THC is detectable in your hair for the longest period of time. Which type of test you receive usually depends on the kind of job you’re going for.
This of course isn’t the only time you’d be receiving a drug test. Many instances of legal ramifications require drug testing as a conditional reprimand. To repeat, the best way to deal with these is to refrain from use altogether. This even applies to low-THC products. Even with these, continued use can produce enough metabolites to trigger a failure. It’s simply not worth the risk!
Arbor Vita8 & Riley Dee
As always, we thank our awesome canna-partner for another fun, informative clip. Be sure to visit Riley’s TikTok page for an entire library similar clips! If you have any questions about hemp processing services or products, look no further! Arbor Vita8 is here to help. Browse our site for more information, and reach out to us today to start the conversation!
Clip Transcript
Riley Dee:
Did you know that most cannabis drug tests are actually not looking for THC in your urine? So after you take in cannabis, whether you’re smoking it or eating it, your body is going to transform that molecule so it’s easier for your body to excrete it. This process mainly occurs in the liver where we have special enzymes called cytochrome enzymes that are able to add special functional groups to molecules, so it’s easy for your body to get rid of them.
When our body is metabolizing cannabis or THC, what it’s going to do is first add on a hydroxyl group, or an OH group, right here on the molecule. And this is called 11-hydroxy-THC, and it is psychoactive, so this molecule will get you high. 11-hydroxy is further oxidized to reach this carboxylic acid molecule. And this molecule or some form of this molecule is what they’re looking for in your urine test, because that is what you’re excreting.
