trytofly

Hi, I have a very simple question that I can not find a clear answer for.

I have a medical coming up for renewal and am wondering if cannabis/THC is tested for in a normal medical (class 1). Everything I have read says the urine analysis is for kidney disease only, and makes no mention of 'drug' testing, but obviously I would like to be sure.

Now before everyone starts laying into me for smoking mj, please just keep this on topic and hold back your negative comments. I only want factual advice regarding my FAA medical, hopefully from an AME. I have no problem asking my doctor directly, however anonymous advice would be better if possible. I know there will be a lot of people here that will not, or will refuse to understand my personal decisions and probably will result in some negative responses, but I would like to avoid that if possible. If you must know about my choice read the next paragraph and I'll give you some details as an attempt to avoid multiple negative replies with no useful information.

First off I'm not a stereotype pothead, hippie or stoner that most pilots associate with as soon as they hear 'cannabis use'. I'm a responsible user that only smokes occasionally in the privacy of my own home, you won't ever find me 'high' in public, and you would probably never know I smoke even if you knew me personally (like many others I suspect). I understand that many flight jobs require testing, this does not affect me currently or in the foreseeable future. If the situation changes, I will re-evaluate my decisions. I have studied the effects of mj extensively and have made a personal decision to use it occasionally to relieve stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Other (legal) medications don't work nearly as well and have nasty side effects that I prefer to avoid. I would never fly high and have a personal minimums of 24 hours from last felt effects to doing anything flight related, but never use them because its normally a week or few weeks between smoking and flying. As far as the law, I make the choice to break the law just like many of you may chose to speed, roll through a stop sign, not wear your seat belt, or even jaywalk, they are all minor misdemeanors, except my choice will not effect anyone else. I view MJ laws as silly, outdated and politically driven, again this opinion comes after much research. If the concern was really getting dangerous substances out of the hands of the public and took a scientific [logical] approach, tobacco and alcohol would be outlawed way before MJ was even mentioned. I'm well educated, have an impeccable employment history and am a responsible, contributing member to my community. I feel that in no way does MJ use on my own time affect my ability to do my job to its fullest extent, and my employers (past and present) would no doubt agree if they knew.

So please keep this on topic and simply tell me if you know for a fact weather or not THC is tested for in a normal class 1 medical. Provide links or references if you can.

Thanks.

de727ups

THC is not tested on the medical, however, the application you'll fill out asks if you have used an illegal substance in the last two years. It's a federal offense to lie on the form and I'd guess you'd not get the medical if you answer yes. Though, I'm not really sure.

You can see what the form looks like if you google "faa medical form".

Slice

If you want to do this for a living give up the Mary Jane. Drugs were never my thing but why do you think most of us drink booze instead?

rickair7777

It's not tested by the FAA on the medical. If you are a purely recreational pilot, you can probably get away with it at least short term.

But like DE said, if you lie on that form you can go to jail...you would not be the first, and they have actually cracked down on that recently.

If you are involved in an accident, there's a chance that your habit will come to light...bad news on both the federal and liaibility fronts.

Also if your PO'ed ex-girlfriend called the local PD and told them you smoked an occasional joint, they would roll their eyes...if she called the FAA, they would roll the SWAT team. Different perception on that in the aviation world.

It's a low risk with a large downside. The problem is that medical form...it turns a parking-ticket level misdeamenor into a significant federal felony.

trytofly

Alcohol abuse has been a problem for my family and friends and even fellow pilots, is much more dangerous than MJ and some other illegal drugs, yet it is widely accepted and tolerated in many fields including aviation. 8 hour bottle to throttle is B.S. in my humble opinion, and the effects of just a hang over/dehydration can last hours after you'd test clean. I'd love to see some accident stats where pilots answered honestly if they had been intoxicated with alcohol in the last 24 hours before the accident. Too bad alcohol, or all drugs for that matter, don't stay in your system for 3-4 weeks like MJ. That would really change the tune of the FAA zero tolerance song.

BTW Alcohol is a drug, so drugs are your thing . I'll have a drink or two myself, but I am only making these comments because I see so many pilots party HARD and often, some of them well experienced and well along in the career, and simply use the pressures of the job and partly the zero tolerance drug policies as an excuse to drink more.

Oh and for tobacco, I can't even stand up strait after my once-a-year cigarette, I don't know how you guys are allowed to smoke those things and go fly!

trytofly

Thanks for the info.

Led Zep

..........

The Juice

Who are you kidding? You are trying to rationalize smoking pot as a pilot.

What a joke. You are willing to risk your career to get high because you get "stressed". I feel safer sharing the skies with a pothead.

johnvoncessna

The bottom line is that MJ is illegal. If you are planning on making aviation as a career, random drug test are the norm with the airlines or who ever you work for. And once you get busted (it's when, not if) your name will have red tape all over it.

But hey, its your choice, don't let me lecture you. If you check no on the illegal substances, you are lying and subject to the full force of the FAA.

my two cents..

rickair7777

Everybody go read the original post again!

The guy is an occasional smoker and a RECREATIONAL pilot...he said he's not a career guy. (if he was, I would have burned him to the ground too).