8 Myths That Won't Help You Pass Marijuana Drug Test

A total of 37 states, including the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands have legalized the use of medical cannabis, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

However, whether it be for work or other reasons, some people will still need to take and pass a drug test.

Here are seven myths about marijuana -- and drug tests in general -- that people should know to pass their tests.

Myth #1: Drinking A Lot of Water Can Help Trick the Test

While drinking more water may make substances like the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana harder to detect, this method can be spotted since there are specific metrics that drug tests measure when determining the validity of a specimen.

Drinking too much water may compromise these metrics and necessitate a re-test, according to South Carolina-based drug testing company ARCpoint Labs.

Myth #2: You Can Beat a Drug Test With Synthetic Urine

Using synthetic urine, which is allegedly often bought from unreliable sources at high prices, is also another method people use to try and pass a drug test. However, people who use synthetic urine are typically caught for the same reason people who drink too much water get caught: both methods can compromise the metrics of someone's test and cause a red flag.

Myth #3: You Can Pass a Drug Test By Using Someone Else’s Pee

The next possible option for someone unable to use either synthetic or their urine would be to use someone else's pee, but that too has its problems.

Modern drug testing procedures are more flexible, operational, and accurate than in the past, according to the health care network Family Medicine for America's Health.

For example, some tools check the temperature of someone's urine, which will only accept samples at around 37 degrees Celsius to confirm that the sample is fresh.

Myth #4: Exposure to Second-Hand Marijuana Smoke Will Result In a Failed Drug Test

It is highly unlikely for this to ever happen even if you are locked in an unventilated room for hours on end, inhaling only marijuana smoke from others, according to a study published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Additionally, the amounts of THC detected in the blood of some participants were well below the amount needed to fail a drug test.

Myth #5: If My Urine Is Clear, I will Pass a Drug Test

This is false, and a false positive can come out of a test even if the person who was tested has not been using any drugs. That is because different medications can also cause positive urine test results, including over-the-counter medications like suppressants and antidepressants.

Myth #6: Marijuana Remains In The Urine For the Same Amount of Time

How long marijuana stays in a person's system depends on several factors, such as frequency of use, the potency of the THC and a person's metabolism, among others.

As for how long THC can be detected in someone's urine, it is around more than 30 days for chronic users, while infrequent users will have their systems cleared between one to three days after their last consumption.

Myth #7: Putting Bleach In Urine Can Help Pass a Drug Test

This can be true as bleach can break the THC into metabolites, but it has many downsides. One is that it can work for a rapid immunoassay test but not for lab tests since technicians can detect the by-products of the reaction between bleach and urine.

Additionally, bleach reacts with urine and gives red coloration that is visible to the naked eye.

Myth #8: You Can Fail a Drug Test After Eating Poppy Seeds

This is another myth with some truth to it. Poppy seeds are derived from the opium poppy, but a person would need to consume a large number of seeds to fail a drug test.