drug screening
State marijuana legalization brings up new questions in hiring
is actually legal — it creates a confusing situation. Should an applicant be denied a job in another state because he or she utilizes a drug that is legal in the state in which he or she resides? One problem is that THC — the active ingredient in cannabis — can stay in the body…
Read MoreSamples from previous Olympic Games to be re-tested for performance-enhancing drugs
Although it has been seven years since the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the International Olympic Committee has plans to continue screening past competitors and medalists for performance-enhancing drugs. If it finds drugs in the samples that it collected before and during the 2008 Games, the IOC can still strip winners of their medals. The…
Read MoreEmployers continue to question how to handle marijuana legality during drug testing
Alaska officially legalized recreational use of marijuana for citizens that are over the age of 21. However, employers in the state — and in fact, across the country in other states in which recreational or medical cannabis is used — find that they are not sure how to handle employee drug tests when the drug…
Read MoreJamaica making dramatic changes in drug testing for the 2016 Olympics
spent some time in Jamaica recently to check on the status of the country’s rebuilt drug-testing program, after it was discovered in 2013 that, in the six months before the 2012 Olympic Games in London, no out-of-competition drug screening was conducted on any of the country’s athletes. Jamaica has taken home 28 medals in track…
Read MoreCould the federal government overturn its medical marijuana ban?
attempt to end the federal government’s blanket ban on marijuana. The concern is that — while the current administration is fairly lax about enforcing the drug’s ban, allowing the states to determine if medical marijuana can or should be legalized — future administrations may crack down on federal bans and overturn all existing (and future)…
Read MoreNCAA considering new policies for recreational, performance-enhancing drugs
In a move that goes against its former drug-policies, the NCAA may be tightening the reins for college athletes who utilize performance-enhancing drugs, while simultaneously lessening the consequences for those players that utilize recreational drugs such as marijuana and opiates. The NCAA drug testing website currently states, “The NCAA shares the responsibility of promoting a…
Read MoreEmployers: 4 tips for creating and enforcing marijuana policy in states where pot is legal
As states consider passing laws that allow for legal marijuana usage — and in the few states in which pot is already legal — some confusion may crop up for employers. There may be questions like, if the state allows for legal usage of the drug, are you as an employer still allowed to enforce…
Read MoreCould an iPhone app be the newest tool for a pre-employment drug testing service?
When employers conduct pre-employment drug tests or enforce random drug testing, they typically have to hire a drug testing service or work with a local clinic to get results. However, new technologies from healthcare company Scanadu may eventually make pre-employment drug testing as simple as checking your phone. Scanadu has introduced a device that may…
Read MoreMaine attorney general approves welfare drug-testing program, if changes are made
the attorney general finally approved the program, provided the Department of Health and Human Services make some changes to the plan. One such change requires applicants of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program fill out a questionnaire that may help determine if applicants are likely to be taking illegal drugs. The questionnaire is an…
Read MoreDrug-testing device receives government approval in UK, could prevent driving deaths
Northern Ireland’s government has just approved a new drug-testing technology that the country’s Roads Safety Minister hopes will prevent residents from driving under the influence of drugs. The portable device, called Drugwipe, can detect cocaine or marijuana in the body. It utilizes small amounts of saliva, and produces results in eight minutes or fewer. Drugwipe…
Read More