Old trucker trying to return to the road!

I have a question that most people will judge me on, but I feel I want/need to ask anyways so plz don't be ignorant when replying or post something just so dumb that you only make yourself look useless.

I was a company man for 3 years. I have been off the road for a little over a year and wanting to return back after the first of the year. Here comes the extreme catch.......

I came off the road due to back issues. I finally had surgery a month ago and I'm aok in my book and also in my Dr's book. I live in California and was perscribe a medical card for cannabis due to the fact that myself and my body found the opiate pain killers to be the most horrific experience in my life. I had NEVER, yes NEVER smoke/ate cannabis before in my life and at the time was under the impression I would never be a truck driver again, so after months of vomiting and felling like a zombie I got off the pain killers and went to using cannabis. ............ I have found a couple companies that will take me with my experience and my 1 1/2 yrs off the road however I'm unsure as to how good they are, also I have considered getting a restart with a training company just for the fact that I'm rusty and would rather get the hang of things again (since everything now is legal running n such with large companies) and get caught up on new laws/regs, etc! I've heard and know that SOME large companies are doing the hair testing and have done my homework and looks like cannabis can be detected up to 1 year from those type tests. I don't want to blackflag myself or raise eyebrows by asking my recruiter which test I will have but also don't want to get my name and DAC blackflagged for refusing or failing a test either.

That being said, YES, I know and understand that the FED's don't see cannabis as legal and understand that even though my state allowed me use of it legally. I also understand that I might just have to stay off the road a full year before going back to driving OTR but I'll be honest.....I'd rather not! If that is my only option then so be it and I'll just have to suck it up and deal with OTR in another 11 months. I have been off the pain pills for months and have quit the use of cannabis since before my surgery (1 month to date) and have been pain free w/o anything so health wise I'm happy but truly want to be back on the road.

I also understand that this is a TOUCHY subject for ALOT of people out there and want ADVICE, not opinions or how you personally feel towards the use of cannabis. I don't want the ignorant answer of You chose to use it so deal with it! I'm looking for honest answer about the best route I may take. I don't want to lie or hide the fact, but at the same time I'm not going to throw it out there unless I have/need to. I KNOW the safest method, but I'm too impatient for that, but will just have to suck it up I guess if I have no other options.

Any advice would be great. I haven't talked to any companies about this and figured I would start with this forum, but I also have a strong feeling on how some replies are going to be, so I suppose I'm taking my chances that a few real, genuine people will offer up some sound advice or guidence.

Thanks for reading such a long post and I look forward to any sane, readable replies!

 

I'm not scared to ask a question here. This forum has been wonderful reading for me and figured I finally had a good question to ask fellow drivers. I don't want this to turn into a pros/cons battle about cannabis.......well......maybe I'll start another new thread for that tomorrow! I'll sleep on it and see if its worth stirring the pot! lol, no pun intended.

Either way, thank you to the others that replied. I know the safest way is to wait, however I'm at the point where some companies would take me even with the time off, but then well.....ya read the rest. I certainly don't want to chance it or risk it, being on the road means alot to me, but not by cheating myself out of a career!

Thanks again guys and stay safe out there!