ban may be keeping some from entering marine industry

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Where do you expect it to go with that post?

You brought up fed vs state...isnt that a political discussion by nature?
 
I understand that some companies are ending marijuana testing as too many applicants are testing positive.

It's unfortunate that testing only picks up use of pot and not in the person is impaired.

Jim
 
I guess the simple question is, "Would you want your son working for someone (captain) who tested positive for drugs". Commercial fishing is dangerous enough without the guy working next to you being high.

Ted
 
Federal or State, hiring companies often have their own policies, background checks, etc. It's all a condition of employment, agreed to up front when you take the job. And of course it's mandatory for any form of marine license, US or international. Was having a ticket a requirement for the job?
 
I agree with everyone. I asked my son what the hell was he thinking? As more and more states adopt pot to add money to their budget, this type of work may run into an employment crisis.....It will be interesting to watch.
 
O C Diver said:
I guess the simple question is, "Would you want your son working for someone (captain) who tested positive for drugs". Commercial fishing is dangerous enough without the guy working next to you being high.
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The disconnect, however, is that a positive test has nothing to do with whether the employee is 'high'. All it means is that the employee used the drug (in this case pot) within whatever the testing period is. If the employee isn't under the influence when he comes on board and doesn't smoke while on board the boat, is he really a negative impact on the safety of the boat?

I'll confess that in my 58 years, I have never (at least yet) tried pot. I do wonder, however, what is the real difference between pot and alcohol use. (Keeping in mind that most real science, no longer considers pot to be a gateway to other drug use.)

Jim
 
Testing positive for pot does not mean you are high. It only means you were high at some time in the past. You can test positive a month after smoking and not have had any since. For sure if you have reason to suspect that an employee is high on the job do something about it but doing a pee test will not tell you if they are currently high. I can come to work having drunk a six pack 8 hours ago and be terribly hung over but god forbid if I smoked a joint a week ago. I supervise captains and deckhands and they are subject to random and pre-emplloyment testing. Personally I don't care if they smoke a joint once in a while just not on the job. They will definitely lose their jobs though if they test positive for pot. I think it is unfair and an invasion of privacy.
 
Damn, I'm sorry for you & your son.
The fishing fleet here on the Chesapeake has a zero tolerance policy & random testing so if you test positive for any substance, there's no second chance. Yet if you get a DUI or DWI, you can retain your job if you get a good lawyer & enroll in an AA program. Just dumb IMO but I realize the company has rules & if you're going to work for someone, you need to follow their rules. Period.
Another life lesson learned by your son. Whatever you do, be a supportive parent! I'm sure you already are,though.
 
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ak-guy said:
Testing positive for pot does not mean you are high. It only means you were high at some time in the past. You can test positive a month after smoking and not have had any since. For sure if you have reason to suspect that an employee is high on the job do something about it but doing a pee test will not tell you if they are currently high. I can come to work having drunk a six pack 8 hours ago and be terribly hung over but god forbid if I smoked a joint a week ago. I supervise captains and deckhands and they are subject to random and pre-emplloyment testing. Personally I don't care if they smoke a joint once in a while just not on the job. They will definitely lose their jobs though if they test positive for pot. I think it is unfair and an invasion of privacy.
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Exactly
:thumb::thumb::thumb:
 
I get it all and risked my life more than I can remember in the drug war...so I have a horse in the race.

I also have people close to me benefiting from medical marijuana.

It is painful to me to see the absolute insanity of this countries policies and attitudes involving all levels of drugs.
 
JLD said:
The disconnect, however, is that a positive test has nothing to do with whether the employee is 'high'. All it means is that the employee used the drug (in this case pot) within whatever the testing period is. If the employee isn't under the influence when he comes on board and doesn't smoke while on board the boat, is he really a negative impact on the safety of the boat?

Jim
Click to expand...

There is a difference.

Alcohol is legal and it's ok to use it in your off time, just not be impaired when you come to work.

Pot is illegal all the time for this job (until the law is changed). So it's not about whether you use it at work or not, it's about whether you follow work place employment rules. If you're not going to follow the rules, does that mean you're more likely to come to work still buzzed from the night before? I don't know.

Ted
 
The drug testing policies of most companies have makes no sense.


Marijuana can be detected for much longer than any other drug, even though its probably the least harmful. The most common testing detects pot for up to 4 weeks after in has been smoked. This compares to only 24-48 hours for other much harsher drugs like crystal meth. This is one of the reasons that the use of crystal methamphetamine has increased so much.

There are new saliva tests that will detect levels of drugs in the system which will impair a person's ability to work/drive etc. The South Australian traffic police use this, but almost all companies still use the old urine tests.
 
My chief engineer son is employed by the largest, best paying shipping company in the world. Crewmembers are subject to random drug testing in any part at any time. A positive test means you are history. What is at stake is the company losing it's multi-million dollar insurance policy. Is it worth it to lose your job and your ticket, just to get high?:nonono:
 
The standard test is a hair sample 1.5” from the follicle. That tests up to 3 months of exposure as hair grows on average 0.5” per month. It’s going to be moot soon in Canada.
 
First the government made testing mandatory for my pilots and mechanics. Then my insurance company made testing mandatory for any one who had access to the flight line. If you tested positive for anything including alcohol you were done. We all know alcohol pass thru the system quickly and pot does not. This just makes pot high risk for your career. Even if the feds make it legal i’m Not so sure the insurance companies are going to back off.
 
Alaskan Sea-Duction said:
I agree with everyone. I asked my son what the hell was he thinking? As more and more states adopt pot to add money to their budget, this type of work may run into an employment crisis.....It will be interesting to watch.
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Starbucks used to not allow any visible tattoos or facial piercing. They may have had to change that policy as they find it harder to find potential employers that qualify.
 
seems like half of all Americans are on some kind of long term drug.

only after decades are some of the side effects truly known.

just seems crazy that some drugs are considered OK and others arent...and sure I know someone draws the line...

just seems like its way off course though.....
 
When it comes to employment, I don't think zero tolerance is all that bad. An employee just has to decide if it's worth the money. It does make me laugh though. Usually you see an employer maybe paying more for a higher health risk job. Here we have employers maybe paying more to employees with a healthier life style.

Ted
 
O C Diver said:
There is a difference. [snip] So it's not about whether you use it at work or not, it's about whether you follow work place employment rules.
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+1. Thank you.

Just because you don't like the law/rules doesn't mean you can break them as long as you have some emotional argument. I may or may not agree with you, but it doesn't matter. If you don't like the law, get it changed. Period.
 
I can sort of understand zero tolerance of all drugs if an insurance company wants to absolutely minimise its risk, but if that's the case, then alcohol should be included as well.

Alcohol has caused far more accidents, deaths and health risks than pot.

I'd say it has little to do with risk and more to do with the fact that insurance companies are run by older men with conservative values who have never smoked pot, but enjoy a few drinks now and then.

(p.s. I don't mean politically conservative)
 
I’m sitting here right now saturday evening having a glass of wine that I bought at the local liquor store.

If my employer requested me to take a drug test on Monday morning I would pass.

Right around the corner form the liquor store is a pot store. If I went there and bought some pot, and chose to indulge in it this evening I would test postive for it on Monday morning.

In neither case would I be going to work impaired.

We need to change the testing criteria for pot since it is legal, and available for sale just like liquor.
 
Its not legal under Federal law, and varies from state to state. The best way to not fail a drug test is not do any drugs, ever. Problem solv-ed. As above, either change the law or obey it.
 
This thread started on the impact pot has on the maritime industry. So the common thread here seems to be an expatiation to non-maritime employers such as truck drivers, police, manufacturing and many others. Some has stated here it is legal, so why the big fuss, treat it as alcohol. Problem is, it isn't legal federally. Some states have made pot legal yet it is still illegal federally. Federal Law trumps state law.

So what do you think would happen if the feds deemed those state laws as void?

78 you beat me to the button.....
 
It would be impractical and likely never happen but if they did it would be a mess I suspect.
 
I am the administrator for our corporate drug testing program. It makes no difference if pot is legal or not as a condition of employment you must consent to a pre employment, probable cause and random DRUG & ALCOHOL tests. They are separate protocols. Part of the pre employment test is to set a baseline for future testing. We can and do test for probable cause for either or both if warranted. If you do the crime be prepared to pay the consequences.
 
It’s all about money and politics, and archaic laws.
Here you need to test to be a ditchdigger, while public school teachers do not, neither pre employment or random.
I came of age during the sixties, and sampled both pot and alcohol, and pot was the clear winner, as there’s no hangover, and pot doesn’t make you shitfaced slurring, weaving, falling down drunk no matter how much you consume.
IMO pot is much safer as well as not being as addictive as alcohol or, god forbid, the painkillers and antidepressants that our doctors dole out so glibly.
BTW, for those that suffer seasickness, a little “Colorado Candy” can make your day at sea ( not at the helm) much more comfortable!
 
Bob Cofer said:
I am the administrator for our corporate drug testing program. It makes no difference if pot is legal or not as a condition of employment you must consent to a pre employment, probable cause and random DRUG & ALCOHOL tests. They are separate protocols. Part of the pre employment test is to set a baseline for future testing. We can and do test for probable cause for either or both if warranted. If you do the crime be prepared to pay the consequences.
Click to expand...

Yup, welcome to the real world. Bob what you have stated is pretty much the case throughout industry. Especially when mobile equipment, rotating machinery, surgeons, pilots etc are the employees.

No problem, if you want to use drugs pick a vocation where toking is OK. Say being a pot grower, travel agent or house painter. The list is small.
 
sunchaser said:
Yup, welcome to the real world. Bob what you have stated is pretty much the case throughout industry. Especially when mobile equipment, rotating machinery, surgeons, pilots etc are the employees.

No problem, if you want to use drugs pick a vocation where toking is OK. Say being a pot grower, travel agent or house painter. The list is small.
Click to expand...

Or a teacher, lawyer, judge, politician, accountant, architect, software designer; physicist.....
 
I too was the administrator for our VA center drug program. If a nurse or doctor popped positive for pot, I was to immediately get them and escort them to the front door and hand them a letter of dismissal.
 
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