Federal law is behind the times with regard to the general majority opinion of marijuana. That said, there are a number of legally prescribed substances that a truck driver may not use simply because we perform "safety sensitive functions" on a daily basis. As for marijuana, I could give a crap less what you do on your own time. However, there is no way to show when the pot was ingested because the metabolites stay in the body for an extended period of time. Therefore, you can say you smoked a doobie a week ago, it shows up in your UA. Or you could have just taken a few tokes an hour ago and the same amount will show up.
To the crybaby who thinks pot is the only answer to his pain. I have a degenerative and often very painful form of arthritis that will never go away, will never improve and will progress. There has not been a lot of study done on this form of arthritis because it's not well known and only about a half million people in the US have it in varying degrees. I have a doctor who listens to me. He does not just prescribe something because it's what I want. He will do a little research to see what can be done and he thinks outside the generally accepted practices of doing things. And he has found a pain program that makes my arthritis at least tolerable. I have more pain free days now than at any other time I can remember since my diagnosis.
Here it is: Anti-inflamatory Meloxicam 15mg once daily, a higher dose than is normally prescribed, but still safe; coupled with buproprion (Wellbutrin, an anti-depressant) 150 mg also once daily, a lower dose than is generally prescribed. Seems kind of odd, but here's the reasoning: Pain compounds on itself and creates a cycle if not treated early and aggressively with the addition of going after the source of the pain. Hence, the anti-inflamatory, to quiet the joints. The cycle of pain is very difficult to break sometimes, so the brain has to be "jolted" into realizing it does not have to keep firing those receptors, thus, an antidepressant. (By the way, self-pay for these medications...that means no insurance...adds up to about $30/month.)
Pot had been suggested to me and I come from the state of Oregon, where its development has become a science. I never seriously considered it because my entire working career has been in safety and judgment sensitive positions. I did not want my brain addled by THC. Marijuana is not an analgesic (pain killer) in the sense that it goes after the pain receptors themselves. Neither is it an anti-depressant or in any way alters the cycle of symptoms associated with PTSD. It merely gives the user a sense of calm and well-being that is temporary in nature and masks the root of the problem. It does not fight the source of the pain. All it does is addle your brain enough that you do not register the pain and you "forget" about the source of your PTSD for a while. It does not solve the problem.
Do I still have pain? Of course I do. I have to move and do things just a little differently than others do. I have to pay very close attention to body mechanics. Sometimes I have to wake up early because I know by the weather and how tired I was when I went to bed that I will have a hard time getting moving in the morning. But it does not prevent me from doing my job.
All you have said is "chronic pain" without any clue as to the source of that pain. Fibromyalgia? Arthritis? Injury? or Psychosomatic? Today, there are effective treatments for all of this that does not involve mind-altering drugs that are barely legal in a few states because a bunch of potheads actually remembered where they put the petition signatures and got them turned in on time. Medical marijuana is an excuse to get stoned. Again, I don't care what you do on your own time, but don't waste mine with something as lame as that. At least be honest about it.
And for Pete's sake, if you intend on getting into this industry, get your own private UA done (they can be purchased at most drug stores) and keep trying until you pee clean. But don't wait until you are in school and find out via a DOT UA you are still dirty. It is the kiss of death for entry into many companies today. Perhaps you will find a log truck outfit in Washington you can drive for that doesn't test their drivers.
Crap! Positive U.A.!
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by BigRedRider, Jul 25, 2010.
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According to the government yes. To those of us that have no need for chemically induced euphoria
Well I for one think your all addicts
Never understood disliking life so much that I need chemicals to "deal". Don't want to hear about "issues". Don't know don't care.
To the OP;
Been nice knowing ya. Most insurance companies are going to deny coverage for you. And most self insured carriers are not going to want the liability of having a drug user on their payroll. Yes they were legally prescribed in your home state. Doesn't change the anything.
Your only hope is to talk to anybody that will give you the time of day.
The hoops you will have to jump through are shown here
http://www.dot.gov/ost/dapc/NEW_DOCS/part40.html?proc#
sub-part O will have your answer's but all of them depend on a carrier willing to get you right with a SAP, and back in the game. A lot of work for a newbie with no CDL, and no track record.
Good luck.
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