NORML, a pro-marijuana advocacy group, claims that the way the federal government tests marijuana usage is causing many truck drivers to quit their jobs permanently. In a statement on April 11, NORML urged for changes in drug testing policies for truck drivers to prevent a mass departure from the commercial trucking sector.
Nearly 38K Truck Drivers Failed Marijuana Tests Last Year: NORML
NORML references data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), revealing that in 2023, 37,657 commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders failed marijuana drug screenings, with many of them choosing not to return to trucking afterward. The group further states that since 2020, over 139,000 CDL holders have tested positive for marijuana in mandatory drug tests.
Furthermore, in 2023, almost 13,000 truck drivers declined to undergo drug screening, representing the highest annual refusal rate recorded by federal authorities. While the total number of positive drug tests reported to the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse decreased from 68,639 in 2022 to 61,443 in 2023, it’s important to note that this decline is partially attributable to the rise in test refusals.
Government’s “Outdated” Pot Policies Hurting Supply Chain, Group Says
NORML contends that the current procedures for testing marijuana are prompting a significant number of truck drivers to exit the industry, posing a potential risk to the supply chain, according to the group. Paul Amentano, NORML’s Deputy Director, emphasized in a 2023 opinion piece that tens of thousands of commercial truckers are quitting their jobs, leading to increased prices and empty store shelves. The group suggests that the federal government should reconsider its approach to marijuana testing by shifting away from urine tests, which can detect THC for extended periods, in favor of oral fluid testing or performance-based methods, which offer shorter detection windows.
NORML proposes that urine testing is an outdated method that fails to provide accurate indicators of marijuana abuse or addiction, as well as details regarding the timing, frequency, or quantity of usage, or the level of impairment.
