Hello Traci

If you (or the person in question) are constantly around people that smoke marijuana then it has the potential of showing up in a drug screening. If you pass through a room quickly where someone has just smoked marijuana it is unlikely that it will show up on a drug test. It is very similar to people who are around cigarette smokers. They do get second hand smoke but the levels are no where near as high as someone who doesn't smoke at all.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can stay in a persons system anywhere from 3 - 30 days. The speed at which it leaves the system depends greatly on metabolism and also on how much it is used. THC stays in your hair for up to 3 years depending on how much hair you have and how long it is. If you are in a room with someone that smokes marijuana it is more likely to show up in your hair and in a hair test than any other tests available. What happens is the test is not actually showing the marijuana itself but the metabolites that marijuana creates. When these are in your hair they will stay there until the hair completely grows out. Since the metabolites take a little bit to develop if for example you were around someone early this morning and you were tested this afternoon then they most likely wouldn't show up as they haven't been created yet. However for chronic users it is almost always in their system.

If you have a drug screening coming up it is best to avoid friends that smoke marijuana in front of you. Due to the second hand smoke it does have the potential to cause some of the metabolite by-products that marijuana produces. It completely depends on your metabolism and even if you take certain other prescription of over the counter medications. In the early years Motrin was producing metabolites that were mistakenly accused of being marijuana metabolites. These days Motrin is no longer confused with marijuana but certain other medications can be so the tester will most likely ask for a list of any over the counter and prescription medications taken.

Since the person in question does not smoke marijuana themselves if it were to be in the system it would not be there longer than 3 days unless they live with someone that smokes regularly and they are constantly getting second hand smoke. Generally second hand smoke only reaches sub threshold levels but there have indeed been cases where false positives were caused by a person being in the same room as someone who was smoking it.

Drug Testing

I understand that sometimes we live with people or we have friends that do smoke marijuana, cigarettes or much worse things and it is often hard to get away. If at all possible I would encourage this person to perform their rituals outside or away from you. The by-products of any smoke can cause serious long term affects on the lungs and other health and it is just not worth it. If they refuse then perhaps you could just take a walk or a drive while they insist on smoking. If you are never around it then you never have to worry about testing positive.

I hope this helps. If you have any further questions please let me know.

Bunny

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