[biteme3]

I am a balding male age 56 and going to be subject to a hair folicle test for pre employment.my question is , I am a everyday recreational user of marijuana usually no more than 1/2 a joint if I abstain for 30 days or more and my hair and beard are no more than 1/2 to 1 inch at the longest should I have good chance at passing?thanks for you response!

[DrBill100]

It must be assumed that THC and metabolites have been incorporated into your body hair regardless of region of sampling concerned. While your daily use is de minimis THC is cumulative and frequency of use is the predominant factor.

I imagine that regardless of the collection site chosen there is a pronounced possibility of detection but that is relative to THC-COOH detection in general.

1/2" of hair is testable. Simply requires a wider sample area. While most often stated as a metric of length HDT is actually a measurement of density/weight.

Nonetheless, should the collection tech consider the collection of head hair inadvisable they simply turn to an alternative collection area.

If so and given the nature of THC absorption your beard (very seldom used) would register very high, axillary (underarm) hair lower than head hair, pubic hair (very seldom used) higher, chest hair about the same. (2) I have also encountered cases where leg or arm hair was used although there is no scientific foundation for interpreting the results of same.

Cannabis smokers always have a good chance of passing a HDT. Daily users are detected at the rate of only about 60%. (1) HDT is not an effective method for detection of cannabis use. (3)

Huestis, M, NIH Cannabinoid Concentrations in Hair from Documented Cannabis Users

Han, et al (2011) A comparative study on the concentrations of 11-nor-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THCCOOH) in head and pubic hair A comparative study on the concentrations o... [Forensic Sci Int. 2011] - PubMed - NCBI

Huestis, p. 682, Sec. 5.5 in Cannabinoids, Abood, ed. Library of Congress #2004109756 (published in Germany)