Is It Illegal to Use Synthetic Urine for a Drug Test in Texas?

 Posted on January 26, 2023 in Drug Charges

There is no question that the perception of marijuana is rapidly changing across a significant number of states. However, in the state of Texas, laws regarding marijuana remain among the strictest in the nation. As a result, many employers in Texas require prospective employees to submit to a drug test before they are hired. The most common form of drug testing for employers is urine analysis. These tests, considered accurate, test for substances such as THC, cocaine, opiates, methamphetamine, and more. 

For the purpose of today’s discussion, we will focus on marijuana and the negative legal consequences that can arise if someone were to try and cheat a urine analysis test. Something that makes urine analysis testing for marijuana somewhat unfair is that marijuana can stay in your system for an extended period of time, unlike many other illicit drugs, like cocaine or heroin, which remain in the system for only a few days at most. As a result, many people resort to using products like synthetic urine to beat a marijuana urine analysis test because of the time it takes to leave one’s system. If you have been arrested for a marijuana-related offense or fabricating the results of a urine analysis test, contacting an experienced criminal defense attorney may be wise to avoid a detrimental conviction. 

Fundamental Marijuana Laws in Texas

Marijuana and all its associated forms like edibles, concentrates, and flower, no matter how small the amount, remains illegal in Texas. For instance, possessing two or fewer ounces of marijuana is considered a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and fines of up to $2,000. 

Meanwhile, possessing between two and four ounces of marijuana is considered a Class A misdemeanor, carrying up to one year in jail if convicted. In addition, any marijuana conviction will likely result in a six-month suspension of one’s driver’s license. Anything above four ounces is considered a felony, which may put you at risk of being charged with intent to deliver or even marijuana trafficking.

What Happens If You Use Fake Urine to Try and Beat a Marijuana Drug Test? 

Let us be very clear: in Texas, you are strictly prohibited from using, manufacturing, or delivering a substance or device to fabricate the results of a drug test. You may even find yourself under arrest for using fake urine to try and trick the urine analysis test into delivering a false reading. You may also face legal liability for possessing a device that conceals synthetic urine to assist you in cheating the marijuana urine analysis.

Cheating a marijuana analysis test or maintaining devices designed to hide the fake urine on your person is a Class B misdemeanor, which may land you in jail for up to 180 days. Furthermore, if you are caught producing or selling substances or tools to cheat a drug test, this is considered a Class A misdemeanor, which can result in a one-year jail sentence.

Contact a Collin County Criminal Defense Attorney 

If you have been arrested for trying to beat a urine analysis test or charged with another marijuana or drug-related crime, do not hesitate to contact the knowledgeable Plano criminal defense lawyers at Law Offices of Biederman & Burleson P.L.L.C.. Call 469-333-3333 for a free consultation. 

Sources:

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/marijuana-rehab/how-long-system-body

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/StatutesByDate.aspx?code=HS&value=481.133&date=5/11/2015