KNPR had an audio segment today on the new laws taking effect in Nevada in regards to medical marijuana. We don't necessarily agree with the views of those expressed in the program. However it is good to be informed on the current events to help formulate your own opinion of both you local leaders and the laws they support.

Listen to the segment which includes comments from our own Clark County board of commissioners and their brief opinions about how Legalized Marijuana will affect the Las Vegas Community.  What is your opinion of the movement to legalize the drug?   Is this good for tourism? 

They mention it briefly in the Audio file, but one of the more important questions I don't think many are considering is: how will the marijuana frenzy affect the children and teenagers in the Las Vegas valley?  Last I checked, the Clark County school district wasn't quite ranking among the greatest school districts in the Nation. The words I read were that in 2013 the education system in the Silver State "ranked dead last".  

Sure you may say that the argument is totally irrelevant because the two are entirely unrelated. Which is true for many. Legalizing medical marijuana is a joke. I tend to agree with Mark Kleiman, professor of public policy at the Luskin School of Public Affairs at UCLA, who (from the KNPR interview) alluded to the fact that the vast majority of the people applying for the cards will be using pot because they want to, not because they have cancer. 

The legalized pot - "medical marijuana" will become just as popularly abused as any old opiate in mom or dad's medicine cabinet.

Any thoughts?  Leave a comment -

A super shout out to our Lab Staff for being on the ball. With all of your tedious preparations the inspection from Nevada State Health Department went off with out a single hitch.  This is a copy of the letter we received from the Bureau stating that the inspection "revealed no regulatory deficiencies".  So congratulations on all your hard work.  We're looking forward to another great year of excellence in drug testing!

Please note the following dates ATI will be closed in 2014:

New Year's Day  Wednesday, January 1

Martin Luther, Jr. Day  Monday, January 20

President's Day  Monday, February 17

Memorial Day  Monday, May 26

Independence Day  Friday, July 4

Labor Day  Monday, September 1

Columbus Day  Monday, October 13

Nevada Day  Friday, October 31

Veterans Day  Tuesday, November 11

Thanksgiving Break  Wednesday, December 24
                                  Friday, November 28

Christmas Break  Wednesday, December 24
                            Thursday, December 25
                            Friday, December 26

College Championship Athletes now subject to lower cutoff on THC than Department of Transportation (DOT) operators.

The NCAA's Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) recently voted on Raising the standards for drug testing the competitive championship level athletes.  (learn more about NCAA Drug Testing)

They agreed on lowering the threshold / cutoff level for Marijuana (THC) testing to Five nanograms per milliliter. This change has already happened, since August 1st, 2013 these athletes have been tested at this newer lower cutoff level.  Why the change? And What was the problem with the old cutoff level? 

Brian Hendrickson, author of the news article on NCAA.org reports: "The previous threshold of 15 nanograms per milliliter was set when the NCAA established its testing program in 1986 and followed the standards for workplace testing. Tests at that time could not distinguish second-hand consumption at a more sensitive level. After its research, the CSMAS concluded that a five nanogram per milliliter sample was definitively indicative of direct use." (continue reading entire story here)

So with the definitive research conclusions of CSMAS we now hold our College Championship Athletes to a higher drug testing standard than we do with our Airplane Pilots, Bus Drivers, Train Conductors, Semi Truck Drivers etc...   The Department of Transportation (DOT) drug testing regulations still have Marijuana (THC) Confirmatory Testing at 15 nanograms per milliliter.  (all DOT cutoff levels can be found here)

Will the DOT follow the shining example of our Star Athletes and lower the threshold for confirmatory testing on THC?

Well if this study conducted by CSMAS provided enough concrete evidence that at 5 ng/ml of THC suggests actual use, and not secondhand exposure than, I'd say... YES. 

Or wait!  Will the government just make pot legal instead? 

I was surfing around the web just to find out what kind of information was available. Mostly looking for content that was not originating from the American Toxicology website.  I was surprised / proud to see that there was actually some discussions about us on some pro-drug usage online forums. 

My favorite post was from a upset patient complained about how he tried to use some fake pee for a drug test at our location in Feb 2012 (yes we realize that this is old news, but we just found out about it yesterday). 

The following is a quote from the customer of a fake pee product:

What's just as fascinating is the thought process and analysis that some of the other users on this thread had expressed. Chelsea, one of our laboratory technicians put it this way: "It boggles my mind every single time I look through these sites... The amount of stress and effort they go through just to pass a urine test to be a line cook or a busboy. If only they put just HALF of that effort into something positive, they'd probably be CEOs somewhere haha. Oh well, job security for us."

Further down in the thread another user commented:

I think this user's thought process is somewhat correct but I would phrase it more like this;  Because American Toxicology is a smaller laboratory we can focus on delivering the best customer service and products to their clients. We aren't a National laboratory with corporate governance. And contrary to what was said, our prices are rather competitive. We HAVE to be competitive to hang with the national lab's "Wal-Mart style pricing". The major differences are found in the quality of service that a Local company like our can offer to our clients. Furthermore, our employees are scientists who are allowed to think outside of the box. They really get a kick out of catching synthetic pee samples so bring on the Canadian variation of your fake pee!

The full text of this online discussion about American Toxicology catching fake pee can be found at: http://www.marijuana.com/threads/quick-fix-failed-american-toxicology-las-vegas.294579/

Other discussions about American Toxicology failing Synthetic urine samples can be found:

WebWire 
GrassCity

Our disclaimer:  It's unfortunate that there is a demand for these types of products. We do not agree or affiliate with the views or beliefs off the aforementioned websites. But we do find it amusing our name is being discussed in this way. The best way to pass a drug test is always going to be...

Don't use drugs!

The US Air force  weighs in on Chobani yogurt flavor, Chobani to remove hemp seed from flavor. 

What's the reasoning behind this?  AFI 44-120, paragraph 1.1.5  “studies have shown that products made with hemp seed and hemp seed oil may contain varying levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active ingredient of marijuana which is detectable under the Air Force Drug Testing Program. In order to ensure military  readiness, the ingestion of products containing or products derived from hemp  seed or hemp seed oil is prohibited. Failure to comply with the mandatory  provisions of this paragraph by military personnel is a violation of Article 92,  UCMJ.”

Information for this post was from the Air Force Times   
See Entire Article - http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20130826/NEWS/308260043/Air-Force-bans-Greek-yogurt-hemp-seed

Scenario: Someone thinks they are going to test positive on a drug test (because they've likely used drugs recently)  so they go to some Ghetto Tattoo or Smoke shop  to pick up one of these fake urine kits. 

This "Magnum Detox" kit includes: 

1. A Squirt Bottle
   
2. Some Synthetic Urine
3. A Heating Pad
4. Detailed Instructions (which probably tell you not to drink the "Magnum Detox" fake pee)
5. A Quality Guarantee!  
6. And... Toll Free Support ... oK

Fake Pee is 100% Guaranteed Quality, Tommy Boy Style! 

People try to cheat with this stuff on a daily basis here in Las Vegas. Don't be fooled folks!  While you may be able to get away with giving this type of sample at some labs, American Toxicology will catch you. And clearly this Novelty Synthetic Urine states on the box that it is "FOR LEGAL USE ONLY".  So please, make sure you only use it legally.

If you are going to use this legally at American Toxicology, please keep your receipt because you may have a speculative complaint against their "100% Guaranteed Quality" that probably won't win you anything from but more humility and embarrassment when you call to get some testing records back from your employer.  Good Times!

Mark your Calendars!

American Toxicology will be closed on Monday, May 27th, 2013 for Memorial Day!

We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, May 28th.

Please note that our Sahara location will be open on Saturday, May 25th from 7:30am to 9:00pm.

If you have any questions please call us. (702) 452-2730 

Thank you!