Alcohol & Other Drugs: Second Hand Marijuana Smoke and Drug Testing

The following information will help you determine your potential exposure to THC, the active and detectable ingredient in marijuana, if you do not smoke but were in close proximity to second hand smoke. Unless the answer to a specific question differs substantively from the information provided below, your question will be linked directly to this page. Spot will only answer your question specifically if there is an element of it that cannot be answered by the information provided on this page.

Irrespective of body size, the degree of second hand exposure is influenced by one or more of the following: size of the room or space you occupy, air circulation and quantity of smoke in the air, duration of time you are exposed and potency of the marijuana.

Exposure to second hand smoke can cause a drug test to be positive. A “contact high” indicates that THC has entered the blood stream where it is then detectable by drug analysis. If you do not feel “high” after exposure this does not mean that you are necessarily THC free.

If the exposure is inconsistent, the guidelines for minimal use apply and you can expect to be “clean” in approximately 10 days, possible fewer. If you have prolonged exposure (e.g. living with a frequent user), THC may be detectable for as long as a month.

Beyond the information above, determining whether you will or won’t pass a THC test based on second-hand exposure is literally a guess by anyone weighing in on the subject, including Spot. Unfortunately, your guess is as good as Spot’s. This page contains all the information possible for making a determination. Due to volume of questions, all questions about second hand marijuana smoke will all be linked to this page rather than answered specifically. Thanks for your understanding. -- Spot

Spot Drug-Testing Links

Drug Testing for Marijuana
Includes Hash

Drug Testing for Alcohol

Drug Testing for Opiates and Opioids
Includes heroine, opium and prescription opioids; barbiturates and benzodiazepines

Drug Testing for Stimulants
(includes nicotine, cocaine, crack, crank, amphetamine and methamphetamine)

Drug Testing for Hallucinogens
Includes LSD, PCP, 'Shrooms, XTC