Looking To Get Started!

Hi everyone, I've been reading up here for a little while here and taking the high road tests, I'm hoping to barrow a little expertise here for this situation before I make any moves.

I'm about to go for my permit but my state PA requires the DOT physical first.

Before I attend this physical I need to disclose that I was a PA MMJ card holder for part of 2022. I got it as a legal protection when my wife with anxiety went to get hers. (The doc said there could be problems for me without one if we ever had police contact and she was carrying the stuff.)

Finding out that holding that card barred me from any CDL work down the road.. I canceled the card with the state.

I also verified with that all records were deleted along with contacting the issuing physician and asking that my file be deleted (which they agreed).

I'm a bit concerned going for the physical or Pennot for the permit because I don't want them to be able to see I held one and somehow bar me for life or worse report to a higher agency of some kind.

Maybe I'm airing on the side of caution here but I've read a couple horror stories of those who couldn't get their CDL for similar situations.

Any advice is appreciated, thank you!

Did you partake or just have a card?

There is no higher agency or power they report anything to. No one is in contact with the physical personnel about medical marijuana cards.

If you used any at all, be aware that hair follicle tests are accurate and career crippling for a 90 day period back from the day of testing. Shave your head and body and wait 6 months.

There was a small bit of use in the beginning out of curiosity and not knowing any better. It turned out it really wasn't my thing, so I dropped it back then but didn't cancel the card until last month.

The standard DOT physical preforms hair follicle? I could've sworn I read somewhere they do urine only. At least for people who get the physical for the permit without a company involved.

Was hoping to pass the physical and spend my time preparing the permit and endorsments.

DOT requires urine only. Many companies are moving over to hair testing as well.

Even if u get your permit, when you go to company training they most likely will make you do a new physical and drug test which may or may not include hair.

Something to consider:

With your wife using medical marijuana, you are going to have to be hyper vigilant to make sure that you never drive a vehicle that has the substance in it. It will easily kill your career to be found in possession. Even a spec of marijuana being found on your clothing should or in your car would be potential suspension of your license. You will need to be sure that none of your clothing ever smells of marijuana from 2nd hand exposure. Going through a DOT inspection with even a faint smell of marijuana will cause problems and delays. I point these things out because your need to guard yourself doesn't end after giving the specimens for testing.

In the wrong set of circumstances, you can find yourself with extremely serious legal issues. All of this is to say, be extremely careful and on guard. Even the smallest amount of marijuana found on you while driving a CMV has the potential of being a lifetime ban of operating a CMV because there is the potential that it has been carried across state lines. Use extreme caution here.

Thanks for the info I will try to figure it out for more.