Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States and its use will increase as its recreational use has become legal in some states. The main hallucinogenic agent is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which binds to certain neuroreceptors in the brain. Only a small portion of the consumed THC will reach the brain, where its effects are felt for 15-30 minutes. In modest doses marijuana has temporary effects similar to alcohol, as is the underwriting risk. The main underwriting risk posed by the use of marijuana is the risk of damage to the lungs. Also there may be an increase in risk as a result of accidents and the risks are higher if marijuana is mixed with other psychoactive or sedative drugs.
Marijuana can be consumed in many different ways, including smoking or the inhalation of heated vapors without the actual burning of the drug; it can also be taken in pill form, included as ingredient in certain foods, or brewed into a beverage. All of these forms of consumption are considered marijuana use for underwriting purposes.
For recreational users underwriting for life insurance depends on a number of factors:
- Frequency of use
- Applicant’s age
- Urine test result
- Omission of use
Few guidelines: if you are a recreational user of marijuana and you DO NOT disclose that you are on the application if there is any record of use in your medical records or there is an indication of use in your urine results you are an automatic decline across the board with carriers. Different carriers look at recreationally users of marijuana. Our advice is this: talk to us about your frequency of use and we can help guide you to the carrier that will ultimately look to give us the best underwriting offer.
