Medical marijuana has proven benefits for various illnesses but also has side effects. Questions arise regarding its use for CDL drivers:
Is prescribed marijuana legal while driving? Can CDL drivers use it on days off? What if they test positive post-accident, despite sobriety during driving? These concerns highlight complexities in marijuana use regulations for commercial drivers.
Medical Benefits Of Marijuana
Doctors prescribe marijuana for various legitimate reasons:
Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy use it to alleviate pain and nausea, enabling them to eat.
Marijuana Side Effects
The National Institute On Drug Abuse reports that THC interacts with brain receptors.
Medical Marijuana And The Law
A National Highway Traffic Safety Commission study of 7 trauma hospitals found 25% of car accident fatalities involved drivers testing positive for cannabis.
How Long Does Marijuana Stay In Your System?
Marijuana can be detected in drug tests for up to 30 days, making it challenging for drivers to prove sobriety at the time of an accident.
How Often Do CDL Drivers Get Tested?
Approximately 50% of drivers undergo testing annually.
Do They Keep A Record Of Failed Tests?
Indeed. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) operates the Clearing House, a database accessible to government bodies and employers, detailing your drug test history for the past five years.
How Do They Test For Drugs?
Marijuana metabolites are detectable in urine samples, though false positives can occur due to various factors outlined by the National Library Of Medicine.
Choosing Safety
Ultimately, holding a marijuana medical card and a CDL simultaneously isn’t feasible.
Source: https://teamcme.com/medical-marijuana-how-it-can-affect-your-cdl-status/
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