TxTravelPro

"My friend" will be traveling to AMS in the next month or two.
Let's assume he decides to enjoy a little weed during the visit, for the first time since the 70's.
It's perfectly legal, so what the heck... right?
Ok... so he gets back to the States and a week later he finds himself in a situation where a drug test is inevitable. What to do? Do you just take proof of a trip somewhere where it was legal?
Thoughts?

Austin

A few hits in Amsterdam shouldn't show up in a urine test a week later. However, if your "friend" is a heavy user anyway, or smokes quite a bit while there, chances are it could give a positive result.

dmlove

Just because it was legal where he did it doesn't mean it doesn't violate the policies of, for example, his employer.

NewbE

I thought it was illegal for tourists to imbibe of the stink weed in Amsterdam.
But even it's not, yeah, it's clear to me that if your friend fails an employer's drug test, the excuse "But I smoked it in Amsterdam" would hold little water.
Perhaps such risks are for the self-employed or retired among us.

Austin

Yes, agree with dmlove. meant to add that employer doesn't care if it was legal there. Besides, how do they know where it was smoked? Could have been smoked before or after the trip...

Suzie

THC stores in the fat cells. You may show up clean after about 10 days if you smoked a little. If you smoke more than a little expect it to take weeks to clear. We're going through this at our house right now. Clean drug test or no car.

mrwunrfl

I expect that it would be against US federal law for a US citizen to buy mj in Amsterdam (like it is illegal for a U.S. citizen to buy or consume Cuban cigars anywhere).

Pumpy

MrWnrful, you facts are off but I'll get back to that in a minute. TX, it could take as long as 30 days to pass a piss test. Hair sample testing can take as long as 90 days or so.

Now back to Wnrful....a US citizen can buy and consume Cuban cigars,just not in the US. FTR- US laws only apply within our borders...they do not travel with us.

nytraveler

US laws don;t apply in the Netherlands - since they have their own sovereign government and system of laws - no matter the citizenship of the person involved.

However, employers can follow whatever rules they choose. And if this person has an employer that does random drug testing (and they'll know this) to smoke anything at all would be foolhardy. And legality in Amsterdam is immaterial. The person would not be fired for breaking a law (in any country) - but for contravening a condition of employment.

hills27

Actually, he's right:

http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/enfor...ba/ccigar2.pdf

Now, would I follow the rule? Hell no!

suze

Tx~ tell your friend either don't smoke pot in Amsterdam, or get the drug test postponed at least two weeks after the trip.

suze

<I expect that it would be against US federal law for a US citizen to buy mj in Amsterdam>

Well, you'd "expect" wrong.

SuCo27

Does your "friend" know exactly when the test is going to be? If so, there's a thing called Clean Tea that's sold at some health food stores and probably online for about $20. GNC makes (or used to make) a version as well, but it costs about $50. You drink about a gallon of the tea 2 hours before the test and you're home free. It worked for me about ten years ago, during my wild college days. I was smoking every day then, up to the day before the test. If it worked then, it should work for your "friend's" small indulgence in AMS.

Or if it's a hair test, I've heard they make a shampoo that works, but have never tried it. I believe you can purchase it online. Just google 'pass a drug test' and see what comes up.

wyatt92

If this friend thinks he may be subject to a drug test, why in god's name would he risk it and smoke pot in Amsterdam? Especially since he hasn't even smoked since the 70s?

TxTravelPro

My friend does not expect a test... and has not had a test in 8 years. But, one never knows when the next big job offer could come along.

suze

Oh, I thought you meant with a current employer who does spot surprise checks on people.

This is easy then! By the time you get back from your trip, apply for a new job, get asked to come for an interview, possibly a 2nd interview, then get an offer (that's when you'd be asked to take a drug test)... You will be well clear from anything you did back in Amsterdam.

chasechow

If this "drug test" was done in relation to a job, it would be entirely up to the employer as to what they would do if he popped positive. If in the off chance he is in the military, there's no amount of documentation in the world that will help him.

BTW, having assisted in the prosecution of military drug cases, your friend should know that THC (the ingredient that is picked up in marijuana on drug tests) stays in the system for as long as 30 days.

If he has gone this long, I really don't see the point, but to each his own.

jamesr3939

THC can show up in the urine up to 21 days after you injest it. Make your own choice!

MJ is not "perfectly legal" in Amsterdam; the law is ignored.

Seamus

For some dry and boring but pertinent info, see http://tinyurl.com/3asexn

mrwunrfl

I am sure that it is against U.S. law to buy or consume Cuban cigars. Doesn't matter if you are in the U.S., Netherlands, or elsewhere.

I think that the applicable regs are in section 515.204 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations:
http://tinyurl.com/yvpkzf
"no person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States may purchase, transport, ... merchandise if such merchandise is of Cuban origin ... ".

Here is an about.com article:
http://tinyurl.com/2vlmld
"Technically, although an American citizen cannot even purchase or smoke a Cuban cigar while traveling abroad, there may not be any practical way to enforce the restriction."

Found this source linked to a fodors thread about Cuban cigars:
http://tinyurl.com/frbmu

You can probably buy a Cuban cigar in Amsterdam and you won't get arrested for it in Amsterdam. It is not against their law. But you would be breaking U.S. law.

Pumpy, for another example of U.S. law traveling overseas with U.S. toursists see section 105 of the PROTECT Act of 2003:
http://judiciary.senate.gov/special/S151CONF.pdf

So I expected wrong about marijuana law, according to suze. But just because something is legal in another country doesn't mean it isn't against U.S. law.