# Drug testing for life insurance

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-for-life-insurance/33659>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 18, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-for-life-insurance/33659 "2000-09-18T21:53:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-for-life-insurance/33659/1 "2000-09-18T21:53:46Z")

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My new wife (married on Friday) is wanting me to quit smoking pot long enough that I can pass a saliva test to get life insurance. I already have life insurance from the company I work for but apparently it is not enough.

How long do you have to be clean to pass a saliva test? I heard it’s a shorter period of time than for urine or blood testing. Also, does anyone know of a company that offers a decent policy that does not require this?

I think it’s kinda unfair, she smokes cigarettes, which are much more harmful yet she can get insurance, while my joint or two a day keeps me from being insured when the amount I smoke does no physical harm and probably prolongs my life by reducing stress. 8^)

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-for-life-insurance/33659/2 "2000-09-19T00:13:36Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> How long do you have to be clean to pass a saliva test? I heard it’s a shorter period of time than for urine or blood testing.

According to [this site](http://www.detoxcentral.com/info/time-table.htm) it can be anywhere from 14 to 50 days depending on the type of test.

> [@](#):
>
> I think it’s kinda unfair, she smokes cigarettes, which are much more harmful yet she can get insurance, while my joint or two a day keeps me from being insured when the amount I smoke does no physical harm and probably prolongs my life by reducing stress. 8^)

Well, carcinogen-wise, marijuana smoke is much more dangerous than tobacco smoke. (Granted, most people smoke far fewer joints than cigarettes.) See [Cecil’s column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_225.html).