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jessier99 · Jun 19, 2012, 11:45 AM

My husband usually keeps his hair pretty short, between 1/2" and 1.5". He had been a regular smoker (about a bowl per day) for months. He stopped about a month before the test and grew hair out to 1.5". He got a hair cut down to about 1/2" last week. Just got word he failed the hair test but they will allow a re-test (most likely very soon). He has VERY little body hair, so they will have to take hair from his head. My question is, since he got a haircut to 1/2" 6 weeks after quitting, is the hair he has on his head now, albeit short, clean from any THC? Thanks for the help.

smoothy · Jun 19, 2012, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by jessier99

My husband usually keeps his hair pretty short, between 1/2" and 1.5". He had been a regular smoker (about a bowl per day) for months. He stopped about a month before the test and grew hair out to 1.5". He got a hair cut down to about 1/2" last week. Just got word he failed the hair test but they will allow a re-test (most likely very soon). He has VERY little body hair, so they will have to take hair from his head. My question is, since he got a haircut to 1/2" 6 weeks after quitting, is the hair he has on his head now, albeit short, clean from any THC? Thanks for the help.

Probibly not they can argue he cut it that short to beat the test... there is older slow growing hair on his body that's not on his head... and its going to test positive if they decide to use that.

DrBill100 · Jun 19, 2012, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by jessier99

My question is, since he got a haircut to 1/2" 6 weeks after quitting, is the hair he has on his head now, albeit short, clean from any THC? Thanks for the help.

Probably not.

Your reasoning follows the mistaken idea that drug metabolites enter the hair by way of the root capillaries at the base of the bulb. That would mean that it is incorporated only into new growth and therefore after quitting any new growth would be clear of THC/THCA.

Actually, cannabis metabolites are incorporated into hair via several mechanisms, including the sweat and sebaceous glands and tissue surrounding the follicle. After years of sustained use THC is probably still abundant in his system and will leach into hair through these alternative sources.

Dr. Susanna Vogliardi did her doctoral dissertation on this subject and provides an excellent illustration of the processes involved. No need to read it all just go to page 16 for a visual. LINK > Vogliardi