Heavy/Everyday smoker for years...took urine/hair follicle drug screen 7 days ago.

cannabisdreams

Well-Known Member
Ok, here's my story. I am a current heavy smoker. When I have to pass a drug screen I use a trusted friend's clean pee and pass. Received an offer for a job that I really really want and need. Had no worries as my friend was already alerted and had clean pee ready for me.

Then I got the email...and then a second email.. for a drug test. Gave the employer a call to let them know I received two emails with two different registrations numbers.... she said, "Yes, there are two tests, both urine and hair." I said Oh, ok, no problem, I'll take care of both tomorrow." then I hung up and had a heart attack! :shock: It was Monday, I had to test on Wednesday.

WTF to do?

So I researched my little heart out... found the Jerry G method, didn't like the science behind it and kept looking. Found hair bleaching and kept looking because there was no way I was damaging my waist long pretty brown hair (I'm a girl)

Kept looking... found nothing with the science to back it up..... VERY reluctantly came back to hair bleaching.

Found the science behind it:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9228567

Decided I couldn't keep all three.... the hair, the job, the weed and somebody had to be sacrificed. Too late to say goodbye to my favorite and only medicine sooooo.... I figured I had to at least try.

I am female, 5'5", 120lbs and have very long straight fine brown hair.

Research says that at least 30% of the metabolites are removed each chemical process to the hair. Bleaching removing the most (40-60%) and dying on the lower 30% end. I figured I'd need 3 processes to be sure.

Let me first say that this method works best on fine light hair... coarser curlier hair is much more difficult to penetrate. Relaxers are recommended for black curly hair. (These tests are absolutely racially biased as Asian and Black hair naturally holds higher concentrations of metabolites and it is harder to remove them.)

Process One (Bleach):
I bleached once with Wella powder lightener mixed with 40 volume developer. (This strength is way to high for most hair, i would typically use 20). I had it on for 30 full mins before I saw and felt burning (fucking smoke) ... washed it out with plain water for several mins. then some Dawn dish soap and lots more water.
My hair was taxi YELLOW with bright orange streaks.....

Process Two (Bleach):
after I cried for a while and got a night's sleep. I bleached it again. This time for another 30 mins. I did not touch the scalp w the bleach this time... got as close as possible but avoided the roots as they had gotten seriously fried the first time. No smoke this time, used ION powder lightener with the 40 Vol Developer. Apparently ION is much gentler... also I did not cover my hair or pile it up on my head like I did the first time.... it came out a very pale blonde. I called it 'white trash' blonde.

-- Acid Protein Treatment... I call this the 'mini-process' because the acidic treatment is the same as what's recommended in the vinegar/clean and clear method (Jerry G) . I did it because my hair stylist (sympathetic to the cause) told me to do it in between the bleaching and coloring to make sure my hair didnt fall out. I used an ApHogee single pack protein treatment from Sally's for like three bucks. I used only the Part 1 portion which is intended to 'open the hair shaft' so that Part 2 can penetrate and moisturize... saving Part 2 for after the redye.

Process Three (3 1/2) (Redye):
Ready for anything at this point and my hair feels like straw. No scalp damage.. just horribly dry and irritated. Applied a dark blonde ... could very well have used brown but figured what the hell. Left it on for 40 mins, rinsed well with water, then applied the Part 2 protein conditioner.

Figured I had done all that I can do... test was the next day.

Went to Labcorp. Waited for the rude receptionist to take my forms... the test lady was pretty cool and felt bad about cutting my hair. She took it from about 7 different places so she wouldn't have to take too much from one place. they want 120 strands. They lean the scissors right up against your scalp and chop... they do not pluck as I had thought previously.... they test the hair cortex (inner shaft), not the follicle.

Next was the urine test. Easy peasy, bathroom with a lock on the door. No running water, blue dye in the toilet.... had my little sample sized bottle of clean pee positioned Very uncomfortably against where it would stay the warmest. Dumped the pee in the spec cup, few dabs in the toilet for show (not necessary) and it was over.

Everything was accepted, ok'd and initialed.

Day 8 is tomorrow and I have not heard from a med resource officer or my employer. I am sure I would have heard by now if the urine was a fail but I dont know about hair. I'm not worried about the urine anyway.

I figure I'll call the employer on Friday if I haven't heard anything to check on all of the pre-employment screenings (there were a lot).

I'm feeling pretty positive but this wait is killing me. I will post my results as soon as I know.
 

JointOperation

Well-Known Member
soon enough no1 will be testing for cannabis.. just hard drugs.. I think if they want to test for pot.. they should have a breathalizer at the door. if u have any alcohol in your system when u show up for work. you should be FIREd.
 

cannabisdreams

Well-Known Member
Interestingly, I received an email asking for further verification of my time while I was self employed. It seems that either, I am still in the running despite a failed hair test for THC or ... the employer has not been notified of my result (seems unlikely three days after I knew.)

I mentally gave up and moved on but now I'm wondering if there is hope left.... maybe since I passed the urine and it was only weed, I'm ok? Maybe they are just assholes and the company they use to verify and drug test wants to keep the results to themselves until they've had a chance to charge the potential employer for the rest of the screenings? That seems unlikely since they supposedly have 'live access' to the results of each screen as they are available.... I might be over-thinking this....
 

undercovergrow

Well-Known Member
sorry to hear this @CannabisDream :sad: it is BS that employers test for drugs but ignore the dangers of alcohol and other drugs and the effects they could have on the job. hopefully soon, the prohibition against cannabis will be over! you didn't want to work for a company that does this kind of extensive testing anyway! ;-) glad you have moved on and are taking it so well. :hug: it's gotta be a major bummer over a plant that IS medicine for so many.
interesting they sent you another email though about your work history. maybe they don't care about the cannabis showing up if nothing else showed up. let us know! :cool:

:peace:
 

qwizoking

Well-Known Member
I wouldnt be surprised at all if you still got the job and they sort of focus on the urine and looking the other way.


But any job worth having will drug test. Any job paying a worthwhile amount will drug test every quarter/period/randomly. Most often these will include hair tests that show a much longer period of drug use..between periods.

I mean thats just the way it is

Ua being so easy to beat..i smoked half a gram ~40hrs before test, my actual urine and passed...they are becoming used less
 

cannabisdreams

Well-Known Member
I responded to my prospective employer's email and received another again this morning asking me for more documentation. It appears that I am still in the running?

I am assuming she doesn't have the hair results yet? That seems very unlikely. Why would a company continue paying for a background check if I've already been ruled out?

The job is supposed to start next Monday so I'll definitely have an answer this week. I'd like to remain hopeful but am I really lucky enough to have applied to a company who would overlook a positive test for weed? I doubt it!
 

bluerock

Active Member
It's a corrupt world. I wouldn't put it past them to "lose" the results they didn't want to see if they really want to hire you. AFAIK, all this testing is being done mainly at the behest of insurance companies.
 

cannabisdreams

Well-Known Member
They're an IT outsourcing company so they have to be able to tell their clients that their employees are 'well screened'
I can attest to that... i feel raped.
 
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