We get a lot of phone calls from people who are in pain management programs who are regularly required to pass a drug test to determine if they are taking their prescriptions or if they are taking too much of their prescribed medications.  This is an understandable requirement as their physicians want to be sure that they are not selling prescription medications like oxycodone or hydrocodone on the street. These are highly addictive medications and can have disastrous consequences if taken by those who are not prescribed them.

The problem arises when some people can find additional relief from their symptoms through smoking marijuana.  The THC in the marijuana does more for them to help them keep food down and relieve pain but if the THC is detected in their drug test then the patient is cut off from the prescription medication.  This is a no win situation for the patient.  We are always asked if there is a detox drink or other detox product that can help mask the THC in their urine but still have their prescribed medications show up.  There is no such magic pill or drink.  The detox drinks will clear the urinary tract of ALL drug metabolites for a few hours.  They will not just single out the THC and let the other drugs show up in your urine sample.  They just don’t work that way.

Medical marijuana is being legalized in many states but that does not prevent some pain management programs from denying coverage to people who test positive for THC in their urine.  Some physicians are sympathetic but their hands are tied by other circumstances such as insurance regulations.  (To Be Continued)