# Drug testing thread closed. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 22, 2014, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280 "2014-03-22T13:16:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/1 "2014-03-22T13:16:04Z")
[This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=718938) thread was closed since TPTB think that it is (paraphrasing) supporting avtivity that us illegal in the US. I must admit that while the thread may have deserved more than normal levels of watching, I don’t see how it runs afoul of the SDMB registration agreement. We have discussed how people avoid testing positivein many threads, including for instance the Lance Armstrong one. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/2 "2014-03-22T13:27:00Z")
I’ll bet it has something to do with the second sentence of the OP: > [@](#): > > If you consume marijuana then how do you disguise it on a drug test? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/3 "2014-03-22T14:27:42Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’ll bet it has something to do with the second sentence of the OP: Exactly. You can ask questions about random drug testing. Just don’t imply that you are trying to avoid getting caught as that’s the part that pushes it over the line and violates the registration agreement. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/4 "2014-03-22T15:22:25Z")
Still dont’ see it. I mean I can understand that you could reach that conclusion, but I would gave thought the remedy would have been a caution not complete closing of the thread. He did not outright say he was looking to avoid a positive result. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/5 "2014-03-22T15:25:21Z")
Well, no, he didn’t say it outright, but how obvious does it need to be? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/6 "2014-03-22T16:21:53Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Still dont’ see it. I mean I can understand that you could reach that conclusion, but I would gave thought the remedy would have been a caution not complete closing of the thread. He did not outright say he was looking to avoid a positive result. All three sentences in the post were directed at determining the probability of being detected or evading a workplace drug test. I’ve rarely seen a more blatant question about avoiding the detection of illegal drug use. I don’t see any “innocent inquiry” aspect to that question at all. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/7 "2014-03-22T16:53:15Z")
Here’s a question that I’ve never seen answered. Maybe it has been and I just missed it. Is talking about drugs where it is legal by state law acceptable or does the “Federal law makes it illegal so no discussion on SD about it apply.”? I’m in Colorado (and if the tenth Amendment weren’t appealed pot would be unquestionably legal) but a lot of companies here still test. Would discussing masking be still unallowed? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/8 "2014-03-22T17:02:53Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Here’s a question that I’ve never seen answered. Maybe it has been and I just missed it. > Is talking about drugs where it is legal by state law acceptable or does the “Federal law makes it illegal so no discussion on SD about it apply.”? I’m in Colorado (and if the tenth Amendment weren’t appealed pot would be unquestionably legal) but a lot of companies here still test. Would discussing masking be still unallowed? Federal law prevails with regard to what we consider illegal with respect to drug use. Even if legal by your state law, discussion of how to evade a drug test would serve to promote illegal activity in areas where it remains illegal. From the Registration Agreement: > [@](#): > > You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use the SDMB to post any material that you know or should know is . . . in violation of U.S. law. You agree not to post material that in our opinion encourages activity that is illegal in the U.S. From the Rules sticky: > [@](#): > > Drugs that are illegal in the US: You may discuss the effects of drugs, but not where to obtain them. Limited discussion of past use of drugs is OK, but discussion of current use is not. Please include a disclaimer that the drug is illegal in the US. > > … > > How to get around the law: Discussions about legal methods (avoidance) are acceptable; discussions about illegal methods (evasion) are not. Again, see the Registration Agreement. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/9 "2014-03-22T17:15:57Z")
> [@](#): > > How to get around the law: Discussions about legal methods (avoidance) are acceptable; discussions about illegal methods (evasion) are not. Again, see the Registration Agreement. But this was not evasion from the law, but evasion from a private entity. Is it actually illegal to evade a private drug test? Don’t get me wrong, I’m okay with the rule, but what is this board for if we can’t pick nits? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/10 "2014-03-22T17:43:14Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > But this was not evasion from the law, but evasion from a private entity. Is it actually illegal to evade a private drug test? > > Don’t get me wrong, I’m okay with the rule, but what is this board for if we can’t pick nits? But use of the drugs in the first place is illegal. You wouldn’t be concerned about evading a private drug test unless you were violating the law. So the nitpick is irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/11 "2014-03-22T17:47:39Z")
Not to mention that for some professions use of even _legal_ drugs may be banned while on duty, in which case yes, it is a violation to talk about evading positive drug test results while consuming said substances for purposes of not getting snagged on no use while on duty rules and laws. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/12 "2014-03-22T17:54:42Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > But use of the drugs in the first place is illegal. You wouldn’t be concerned about evading a private drug test unless you were violating the law. So the nitpick is irrelevant. Did I walk into a zombie? I thought weed was now legal in certain states. Can’t companies test for and punish that legal activity? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/13 "2014-03-22T18:01:05Z")
Although Colorado has said marijuana is now legal the Federal government still maintains that it is not. Until this runs through the court system companies that continue to test for weed and make hiring/firing decisions based on the results are certainly in the clear as regards _Federal_ law. And again, as I’ve already pointed out, there are a number of professions where use of legal drugs is banned while on duty, primarily for safety reasons. Since I prefer that the people driving delivery trucks, school buses, and flying airplanes are not high while on the job I’m OK with that. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/14 "2014-03-22T19:25:10Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Did I walk into a zombie? I thought weed was now legal in certain states. Can’t companies test for and punish that legal activity? Try reading post #8. ---
**Author:** ![Cwofaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@Cwofaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cwofaz)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/15 "2014-04-13T08:08:58Z")
Where can I look to see the requirement for THC testing for pain center patents. Specifically in AZ. Hope this is an ok ? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/16 "2014-04-13T10:10:43Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > You wouldn’t be concerned about evading a private drug test unless you were violating the law. So the nitpick is irrelevant. But not all drug threads are locked, are they? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-thread-closed-why/684280/17 "2014-04-13T13:10:34Z")
In any case, the questions in the OP were fairly reasonably answered in post #2.