Research including the Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™ has shown that marijuana is the most commonly detected illicit drug. Marijuana is the product of the hemp plant, cannabis sativa, containing the psychoactive chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other related compounds. Under federal law, it is classified as a Schedule I drug, a category for substances or chemicals with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. 

 

Marijuana is typically smoked using cigarettes or pipes but can also be mixed into edibles and drinks or extracted for potent oils and waxes. Effects can include distorted senses, impaired judgment, lack of balance and coordination, increased appetite, elevated heart rate, and sometimes anxiety and panic. Today’s THC concentrations average close to 15% compared to approximately 4% in the 1980s.¹ 

 

Companies can screen applicants and employees to deter drug use and keep their workplaces drug-free. Data shows that oral fluid testing using the Oral-Eze is very effective in detecting recent drug use, particularly marijuana.