Marijuana and Pilots?

[Bill Greenwood]

I have a friend who has taken some flight lessons, and has some interest in being a pilot, has the money if they can find the time.

However, one big issue: due to a long time physical problem,. since a teenager, that causes pain and wakes him about every 3rd night, he has gotten a licence, (it's state legal) and uses medical marijuana. He is not sure if it is going to help him, he's only been using it a month or so. And his pain is not like the classic cancer case, it doesn't bother him in the daytime, only wakes him up often with body aches when he tries to sleep. He can work, but does take off some sick days when he can;t sleep.

So, 2 questions:
1. How long does it take for all mj to leave his system if he decides to quit using it?
2. What is the FAA position on previous mj use if and when he quits and decides to go on with pilot lessons?
Obviously one can't and shouldn't fly if under the influence at all, and the mj dispensary says not too drive within 6 hours of using. But you can get blotto drunk and recover and then lay off for a day or two and then be perfectly legal to fly, should mj, which is obviously less debilitating, be different?
I don't think there is any real good factual research on this, like a blood level of alcohol of say .05

[steveinindy]

I don't think there is any real good factual research on this, like a blood level of alcohol of say .05

Tons of it actually....go to www.pubmed.gov and type in 'marijuana, driving' and you get 428 hits (appropriately enough).

Here is pretty much what you're looking for with regards to the comparison to a BAC of 0.05.

Addiction. 2012 May 4. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03928.x. [Epub ahead of print]
Medicinal THC (dronabinol) impairs on-the-road driving performance of occasional and heavycannabis users but is not detected in Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.

Bosker WM, Kuypers KP, Theunissen EL, Surinx A, Blankespoor RJ, Skopp G, Jeffery WK, Walls HC, van Leeuwen CJ, Ramaekers JG.
Source

Dept Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Abstract

AIMS:

The acute and chronic effects of dronabinol (medicinal tetrahydrocannabinol) on actual driving performance and the Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST) were assessed. It was hypothesized that occasional users would be impaired on these tests and that heavy users would show less impairment due to tolerance.
DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS:

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, 3-way cross-over study. Twelve occasional and twelve heavy cannabis users (14 males/ 10 females) received single doses of placebo, 10 and 20 mg dronabinol.
MEASUREMENTS:

Standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP; i.e. weaving) is the primary measure of road tracking control. Time to speed adaptation (TSA) is the primary reaction time measure in the car-following test. Percentage of impaired individuals on the SFST and subjective high on a visual analogue scale were secondary measures.
FINDINGS:

Superiority tests showed that SDLP (p=0.008) and TSA (p=0.011) increased after dronabinol in occasional users. Equivalence tests demonstrated that dronabinol-induced increments in SDLP, were bigger than impairment associated with BAC of 0.5 mg/mL in occasional and heavy users, although the magnitude of driving impairment was generally less in heavy users. The SFST did not discriminate between conditions. Levels of subjective high were comparable in occasional and heavy users.
CONCLUSIONS:

Dronabinol (medicinal tetrahydrocannabinol) impairs driving performance in occasional and heavy users in a dose-dependent way, but to a lesser degree in heavy users possibly due to tolerance. The Standard Field Sobriety Test is not sensitive to clinically relevant drivingimpairment caused by oral tetrahydrocannabinol.

[steveinindy]

1. How long does it take for all mj to leave his system if he decides to quit using it?

It stays in detectable levels for a week or two from what I understand. It's a fat soluble molecule so it is "stored" in adipose tissue. It is also detectable in hair (and fingernails) for a much longer period of time.

[Frank Giger]

It stays in detectable levels for a week or two from what I understand. It's a fat soluble molecule so it is "stored" in adipose tissue. It is also detectable in hair (and fingernails) for a much longer period of time.

Depends on the level of testing.

30 days for a military grade test is required for clean results.

[FlyingRon]

The FAA asks about drug use in the past two years. I can't tell you to lie on your application and frankly if they find out subsequently that you did, you can lose any certificates you've gained to date.

[weiskopf20@gmail.com]

no expertise here - just some thoughts.Go sport pilot. No medical questions. Self certify. BUT have the doctor who wrote the prescription state in writinghow long he should be off the weed before driving. Follow that plus maybe a safety factor for flying. We all know the answer if you ask the feds. IN THE LOGBOOK, BEFORE EACH FLIGHT MAKE AN ENTRY STATING THAT AMOUNT OF TIME OFF THE MJ. I don't think that this is needed, but it would add to the defense. Once again - just an opinion. CONSULT an aviation atourney.

[danielfindling]

I would definitely have your friend consult an aviation lawyer in your jurisdiction. A couple of thoughts (not to be confused with legal advice). First, there is a conflict between state and federal law on the issue of Marijuana and the jury is still out. Many states, including my home state of Michigan have medical marijuana statutes. In fact, in Michigan, medical marijuana usage is authorized in the state constitution. However, there are several attacks on the law inasmuch as it runs afoul of Federal law. Notwithstanding state sovereignty, federal preemption is alive and well - (As an aside, in Michigan, it is conservative judges that are trying to overturn the "liberal" marijuana law by invoking Federal preemption - and ignoring state sovereignty - go figure - however, I can blow off real fireworks this year and choose not to wear a helmet on a motorcycle thanks to our republican governor - oh, and I like him!)

It is conceivable that an admission of past marijuana usage is akin to violating federal law without regard to the state law. Therefore, I would avoid the admission in its entirety while being honest in the application.

In my practice of law, courts often utilize "hair follicle" testing when testing for marijuana. The hair follicle test can show positive usage of marijuana for 6 months. Fluid testing (blood, urine etc.) is a much shorter period of time. For cocaine, the drug apparently metabolizes so quickly to render fluid testing essentially useless after a few days.

In sum, I would avoid the disclosure of marijuana use without lying. Look at the application and ask yourself if all questions can be answered honestly without disclosure of marijuana use. If not, discretion is advised. Finally, do not rely on my post as legal advice, it's not.

Hope this helps.

Daniel Findling

[FlyingRon]

First, there is a conflict between state and federal law on the issue of Marijuana

There maybe a conflict, but the FAA considers it illegal and it is the FAA that will rule on your suitability for a medical certificate. Medical marijuana is no more legitimate for pilots than prozac or any number of other substances that might be legal in certain circumstances.

The safe answer is to abstain from FEDERALLY ILLEGAL drugs for three years prior to applying for a medical.

[OrvilleJohnson]

Depends on the level of testing.

30 days for a military grade test is required for clean results.

Yeah. I agree with you.

[FlyingRon]

Notwithstanding the drugs, it would behoove him to investigate the underlying condition that he is taking the drug for is not in itself disqualifying.

Use of illegal drugs in the previous two years is also disqualifying I believe (they at least they ask for it). Marijuana even with a medical card is still ILLEGAL as far as the feds are concerned.