Medical cannabis and employment drug tests, what’s the impact?

Posted by frafeeccino@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 27 comments

Just had a job interview for a role and was told, if offered, I would have to do a pre-employment medical and drug test. Surprised me a little because this is an office job, but it’s definitely just an industry standard (rail). It made me wonder, is there any recognition or dispensation for legal, prescription drugs like medical cannabis or even prescription opioid painkillers. I mean, it’s not like I’d be a train driver. How has medical cannabis affected other drug testing industries like delivery drivers?

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27 Comments

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tim_mitchel@reddit

Hmu for details

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Rough-Sprinkles2343@reddit

Yeah that’s interesting…office job and medical cannabis shouldn’t be a problem. I wonder what the rationale is for that…. As long as you have a valid prescription, no need to fuss

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P-l-Staker@reddit

It's entirely up to the company, I'm afraid. They do not have to make any adjustments, even if it's medicinal. I suggest you come forward and talk to them now to save yourself some time later.

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unknowntoff@reddit

Equalities act 2010, whatever OP has had this prescribed for would likely be deemed a disability. So yeah if the employer wants to get dragged by a tribunal it's in their best interests to make reasonable adjustments (assuming they've been there for at least two years)

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P-l-Staker@reddit

>Equalities act 2010, whatever OP has had this prescribed for would likely be deemed a disability. That's not how any of this works, mate. There's a lot of nuance to it. Even if we take OP's condition as a disability for granted, this doesn't give them a carte blanche. The employer only has to make **reasonable** adjustments, but can otherwise still discriminate, even against protected characteristics, where it makes sense. What would be a reasonable adjustment is up for debate, and we could be arguing about it here all day. It depends on a lot of factors. This is why I recommended OP to just come forward with it and see where it takes him now rather than later. It may be a huge waste of his/her time to pursue this legally.

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Elegant-Fisherman-68@reddit

I know someone who works at a place where they are drug tested however they are prescribed cannabis so they don't get in trouble for failing it I would still be careful though as medical cannabis in the UK is a grey area. A lot of "medical cannabis" is just people paying a doctor to say they need it and a doctor has said they're ok with it. It's not the same as going to your GP and getting a prescription

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unknowntoff@reddit

It's not a grey area, it's legal for medical use in the UK, full stop.

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Either_Apartment_795@reddit

You cannot get a Cannabis prescription if you work with or around heavy machinery. Example is forklifts.

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HoraceDerwent@reddit

proof of this?

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Either_Apartment_795@reddit

My doctor from my clinic tho tbf, I havent had a check up in nearly a year. [https://www.reddit.com/r/ukmedicalcannabis/comments/1fofsxo/revoked\_prescription\_because\_of\_forklift\_licence/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukmedicalcannabis/comments/1fofsxo/revoked_prescription_because_of_forklift_licence/) u/HoraceDerwent

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HoraceDerwent@reddit

sounds like you got a bad doc, because you definitely can get a prescription. By their logic, you shouldn't get a prescription if you drive a car since you can't operate a car when baked.

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Either_Apartment_795@reddit

Differ rules and regulations. But as the link shows you can have your prescription revoked.

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HoraceDerwent@reddit

again, that is one "doctor" threatening to revoke it. As you can see from the comments in this thread and the linked thread, it is incorrect to state that you can't get a prescription if you operate a forklift.

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IKnowImRamblingBut@reddit

This isn’t correct, I have had medical cannabis prescription whilst driving forklifts. No different to opiate prescriptions. Was all above board and my employers made aware.

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Either_Apartment_795@reddit

Seems it depends on the companies policies then.

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unknowntoff@reddit

You're talking a load of shite

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Maleficent-Win-6520@reddit

You would have to have a medical exemption. Very rare in the U.K. delivery drivers would not be employed if they use certain described drugs. Drugs testing is pretty standard nowadays.

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widdrjb@reddit

I drove HGVs on tramadol for years, with my prescription declared to my employers.

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Ready-Hold-4000@reddit

thats...scary

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widdrjb@reddit

If it had affected me, I wouldn't have gone to work.

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EpochRaine@reddit

Indeed. If they banned opiates from all drivers, 50% of drivers probably wouldn't be able to work. There's a reason HGVs have gas seats. Very few other vehicles do, and long term the vibrations from driving can lead to accelerated disc generation, particularly if your driving posture is c-spine.

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StGuthlac2025@reddit

go to the uk medical cannabis sub reddit. Lots of info and experience on there. Essentially you should be fine but as with many medications it can depend on the role you are performing, I would let them know.

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Polz34@reddit

I work in the rail industry (in an office job) and although D&A testing is standard we also use a company called 'chemist on call' where we can/should register any prescriptions or medications and then they are reviewed against our specific role, so some stuff is fine for office staff but not drivers/track side staff.

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frafeeccino@reddit (OP)

Good to know. I didn’t really expect it to be an issue but I was curious as to how it’s handled now, especially for new starters.

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hyper-casual@reddit

I take a few medications that would definitely flag on a blood test. My doctor told me they can write a letter to explain I have a prescription, but it was basically down to me to determine if it affected my ability to do things like driving and using equipment. I'm a deskjocky type so I don't actually get tested for it, but I was told by HR I'd be exempt if I had to be tested due to it being medical. They did ask I didn't use Medical Cannabis during work, but I don't know if they really have any legal ground to say that as it's prescription. They couldn't tell somebody to not take their epilepsy meds during work hours I'm sure.

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QuakerGeorge@reddit

If it is prescribed then you will be fine. You simply have to produce evidence. If not…

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