US Oks Test for Detecting Marijuana in Hair

Reuters ^ | 5/7/2

[NativeNewYorker]

WASHINGTON (Reuters Health) - A new test that detects marijuana's active ingredient in human hair has won clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) (FDA), the test's manufacturer, Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Psychemedics Corp., said on Monday.

Psychemedics is a publicly traded testing laboratory, whose clients include more than 2,200 corporations, as well as five of the nation's largest police departments and a number of schools and Federal Reserve (news - web sites) banks, the company said.

"Psychemedics is the only company to have any FDA-cleared hair test and we now have them in all the major drugs of abuse categories," noted CEO Ray Kubacki in a statement. Previously, the firm obtained US clearances to market tests for opiates, PCP, cocaine and methamphetamine/ecstasy.

Psychemedics Senior Vice President William Thistle told Reuters Health that the laboratory has been performing a "home brew" version of the test for the last 12 to 14 years, but that the FDA clearance is expected to increase acceptance of the product.

He said the hair test is more effective than present FDA-approved urine tests, allowing for the detection of drugs used within a 3-month window, compared with the 3-day window for urine tests.

Thistle said other advantages include the ability to keep the individual being tested under surveillance while the sample is taken, minimizing the risk of sample contamination or switching.

[oceanperch]

I agree some of the most conservative political people I know keep this little secret. Alot of smokers I know do not touch booze but keep a hidden stash. Just a footnote.

[Dinsdale]

Hair tests have never been popular because of their costs.

They cost four or five times as much as urine tests and are almost as easy to defeat.

Buisness is only testing to get reduced workers comp rates. Unless the law mandating reduced workers comp rates for companys that test is updated to require hair tests these tests are going nowhere.

The fact is that if drug tests worked many industries would have to shut down for lack of workers. (gotten any 'crete work done lately?)

[philman_36]

I offer them a deal...
So, you're a judge. I'm not impressed, if that is what you were trying to accomplish. You should be able to answer publicly the following questions with aplomb and definitude.
Where does the Constitution allow the government to restrict what a person imbibes or inhales?
If a Constitutional amendment was required for alcohol why is one not required for drugs?
If no person or property were damaged, where is the "crime" and who is the accuser in your "drug cases"? The state? How so? If the state's property were damaged I could see them bringing suit, but when there is no living complaintant...

Will you too say it is in the "general welfare" clause?
Are you a believer in Aslinger's pap too?
Will you even bother answering?

[philman_36]

Or are you County Attorney Russell Wilson
“Is this something that will get Wilson and Bexar counties crossways?” County Attorney Russell Wilson asked before the vote.

[galt-jw]

I offer them a deal, have a hair sample of your client tested within 7 days, and if it shows no marihuana (that's how Texas law spells it) I'll dismiss the charges. The attorney goes back to his "non drug using client" with the offer. How many have accepted? None.

excellent. now, for the brown shirt. not to mention the factor of second hand smoke, let alone the state asking you to prove a negative, through sodomizing personal liberty....but it is for the good of the people right?

hope they dont outlaw alcohol again, PILSNER.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I still don't understand why urine and hair tests have not been struck down as unconstitutional - we have a constitutional right to not incriminate ourselves... Yet, they are free to use our hair and urine (collected from us, not as 'evidence' left at a crime scene) But, I'm just an average Joe, so what the hell do I know??? :0)

[tututango]

but imagine if it becomes legal for your hair to be brought in as evidence in a trial?

It is scary, but I don't see any barriers to using old hair samples as evidence, do you?

[tututango]

That's a very profound point about not incriminating ourselves by providing samples from our own bodies

[Chad Fairbanks]

Maybe not profound, but it seems like it would be common sense... :0)

[Chad Fairbanks]

We leave hair, dead skin, and God knows what else behind everywhere we go... I'm reminded of something I read somewhere once, but I disremember exactly where (this was years and years ago...) - some ancient culture had the belief that if Evil People could come into possession of something from you, something like an eyelash or a hair etc..., they could do you great harm... maybe those ancient ones were correct...???? :0)

[tututango]

...if Evil People could come into possession of something from you, something like an eyelash or a hair etc..., they could do you great harm... maybe those ancient ones were correct..

Wow! Maybe so... about your other comment, sometimes for something to be commen sense to certain people (me), it needs to be pointed out. It's an angle I haven't thought about before, and I'm glad you brought it to my attention. :)

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, glad I could help provoke some thought... to be honest though, it just sorta dawned on me as well recently... :0)

[Dinsdale]

I offer them a deal, have a hair sample of your client tested within 7 days, and if it shows no marihuana (that's how Texas law spells it) I'll dismiss the charges.

This might make me a snitch. But I'm surprised no one has taken you up on it. Hair tests are easy to defeat.

[bat-boy]

"... (gotten any 'crete work done lately?)..."

Isn't that the truth! Potheads have been building this country (in a literal sense)for twenty+ years. The guys who built my house were stoners to the nth degree. That said, they did an outstanding job. I'd hire them again, potheads or not.

[T. P. Pole]

I remember reading about strung-out folks in jail shaving and smoking the cuttings for the high. If I remember correctly, the pubic hairs had the highest concentration.

[weikel]

You should do your constitutional duty and dismiss drug charges anyway don't worry if your a judge they can't touch you for doing that.

[vin-one]

BTTT

Never hide your stash in you hair, because of cross contamination.
Then your stash smells like burning hair worst smell in the world.

[EBUCK]

The only UA's I've taken were voluntary. I wanted the job so I took the pee test to prove my cleanliness. The only forceable citizens (legally forceable) are minors and felons I imagine. You do have the right against self incrimination so don't do the test if you don't want to or don't need the job.

What sticks in my craw is the implied consent rule we have here in Oregon. After getting pulled over the officer can request you take a breathalizer test. If you refuse (to incriminate yourself) you lose your lic. for 90 days.

EBUCK