What are future concequences for failing drug test?

[stevans_41902]

The place I work has random drug testing - no warning in advance - the testing people come in and everyone is forced to take a supervised test. If you fail you are fired. If you leave, you are considered guilty. From the info I have gathered, they have the tests about once a year. They had one shortly before I started working there and I have been at my job for several months now. I wasn't worried at first b/c I only smoked 2 times a month max, and figured the THC would most likely be out of my system a few days after I smoked. I bought some a few weeks ago and have been smoking almost every day since (have a few hits to relax after class.) I am a senior in college and plan on going to professional school and possibly working for a school system. The job is just part time but I do make better money there than I would working somewhere else and it was very difficult just to find a job in the first place. I have a feeling there will be a drug test soon and I am worried what the future consequences will be if i get fired and if there is a chance it could prevent me from working at a school. (boyfriend is against me smoking because of this.) It has not affected my school/work performance & its a great stress reducer and cures my migraines like nothing else. I am vehemently against random drug testing & feel like its a violation of my rights. No problem for all of the people who come into work hungover on a regular basis, though. I don't want to completely abstain just b/c of the possibility of this stupid test but I know the prejudices society has against people who smoke pot and I don't want future employers to label me as "dangerous" to the well being of the kids I teach b/c this is on my record. (i dont know how these things are kept track of...)
thanks in advance for confirming/denying my fears about future employment.

[momzno1]

1. It takes longer than a few days for THC to get out of your

system. I don't know what the consequences of failing would be.

[OnyxCollie]

2. It takes about a month to get it out of your system.

Go out and buy yourself a bottle of Vale. It worked for me. Follow the directions. It'll give you a 5 hour window.

[darkmaestro019]

3. They might ask your reason for leaving your last job.

Lie. (shrug) I've noticed most jobs don't seem to check your previous jobs all that strenuously anyway. If you must just leave that job OFF future applications entirely. Make up something cute to explain the gap.

Quit looking at me like that, you guys. We don't owe those fascists anything.

[MadMaddie]

4. Unfortunately..I think that what people do behind closed doors

is their business but with technology and how employers are scrutinizing employees from utube to myspace etc....I would say either quit and don't take the chance it depends on what your future career is also because if it is a government job or peace officer etc they will look at those things and won't even look at you....just a little advice...

[lastout]

11. I know it's a long shot----If EVERYONE refused a drug test on constitutional

grounds,the madness would cease

[Glib Acumen]

5. Word of mouth smear campaigns

If you take the test and fail, there could be a word of mouth smear campaign against you. The evidence could be sent to the police.

My advice is do not take the test. Be strong in your freedom from the totalitarian conventions of industry. Tell them, "I do not want to be treated like a criminal. I resign because you have been rude to me."

[stevans_41902]

6. nope its not a government job,

I get paid above minimum wage, but not that much. I don't want to quit b/c I am good at what I do and get along with most of my coworkers really well. As far as the taking a few days for it to get out of my system, I was referring to the fact that if you only smoke occasionally it will not show up on a drug test 3 days after you smoke:
http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=37341
I have no way to prepare for the test except to quit now, but i am not sure if it will be next week or 5 months from now.

[shanti]

7. are you still smoking daily?

like the previous posters said, it takes a month to leave your system after daily smoking. you can always try the 'piss cleaners' out there. i know some people that it worked on.

btw, if you're 'vehemently against drug testing' as you say, why work for an employer that does this?? makes no sense. there are lots of employers that don't do this.

[lastout]

9. Do some research---about halve the tests are wrong or "confused"-------

There are ways to confuse the test---a size able percentage of tests produce this result.

[Nikia]

8. If you would fail

Avoid mentioning the job when applying for future positions. Not all college students work so appearing not to be employed at that time is no big deal. Unless it is a small town, it is very unlikely that refusing to take a drug test (because you will likely fail) or even failing will follow you if you omit this part of your employment record, especially since you are a part time worker who is a college student and have worked there only about a year. If you do fail, unless you are on probation, there is no possibility that you will have any charges against you even if they tried reporting you. Possession or being under the influence of marijuana may be against the law, but having metabolites in your urine is not.

[Union Thug]

10. Why is it that they test low wage workers, but the bigger money earners

get off scott free?

None of my better paying jobs have drug tested. It's only in the lower wage jobs that they play this particular fascist card. Funny thing - I've known more drug users in the higher paying occupations that those in the lower paying ones.

Funny how that works.

[Athelwulf]

12. I work at Denny's and they don't test

I got the job recently, and at the end of my first or second day of work, I asked the manager how they do drug screenings. She told me they've never had to test people and they don't anticipate ever doing it in the future.

It could just be my local Denny's, but if anyone is looking for a good employer that doesn't screen, then Denny's is probably the place.