Does Morgan Stanley drug test?

Self explanatory. I'm an incoming full time IBD analyst next summer and am wondering if I'll get a urine or hair test at training. We didn't as SAs and I believe I heard FTs don't either, but want to be sure.

I figured asking here would be less awkward than emailing HR.

23 Comments
 
Best Response
thebrofessor

if you can't stop smoking pot for a few months to a get a job, I'd question your dedication too.

this is coming from someone who's a strong advocate of legalization. just because I don't agree with the system, doesn't mean you shouldn't be smart about it and play by the rules. plus, think of all the bud you can buy with your newly bumped salary!

How are they going to enforce drug testing for pot in states where it's legal for recreational use or in places like CA where it's medically legal and, yes, you need a diagnosis and a prescription, but getting a card is only slightly more difficult than going to a bar and ordering a beer? For the medically legal wouldn't it be pretty similar to taking a drug test when you're on prescription pain meds and an opiate positive comes up, but since it's prescribed, the positive is waived? It would be an interesting states rights case.

 
thebrofessor

if you can't stop smoking pot for a few months to a get a job, I'd question your dedication too.

this is coming from someone who's a strong advocate of legalization. just because I don't agree with the system, doesn't mean you shouldn't be smart about it and play by the rules. plus, think of all the bud you can buy with your newly bumped salary!

Yeah I would never do anything that would show up unless I was absolutely certain there was no drug test. Haven't smoked in a couple months and I won't until I start work, unless I hear we aren't tested.

 

I'm not advocating for anyone to be the guinea pig and purposefully test positive and get dinged for a job, but I'd imagine that the medical marijuana thing would be an ideal test to get it up to the Supreme Court. The CSA, FDA and DEA (the law and agencies who determine and enforce illegal drugs) are pitted against state medical licensing boards from my pov. For example, in CA, a doctor diagnoses a patient with a condition that mj is approved to treat in the state. Patient takes the diagnoses and prescription card to a medical dispensary and is issued mj. In reality the process is a farce but that's state law and a doctor that's been approved to practice medicine by the state board does prescribes a patient medicine. If a doctor prescribed me something else that made me test positive on a drug test, I'd most likely just be able to bring a note from the doctor saying I'm taking percocets for an injury and that's why I tested positive for opiates. I know under federal law marijuana it's illegal, but I just think something along these lines would be a good way to bring this up through the courts and force the issue at the Federal level. Or a doctor will someday be punished by the feds for prescribing it and some well funded pro-legal group will back them. But I'm not a lawyer so maybe I'm just blowing smoke out my bum.

Although I did see there's a PE fund in Seattle that's doing all marijuana investments. Privateer. They just made a $50MM(?) investment into something like Bob Marley's children's pot brand, or something weird.

But as others have said, OP, don't risk it.

 
Dingdong08

I'm not advocating for anyone to be the guinea pig and purposefully test positive and get dinged for a job, but I'd imagine that the medical marijuana thing would be an ideal test to get it up to the Supreme Court. The CSA, FDA and DEA (the law and agencies who determine and enforce illegal drugs) are pitted against state medical licensing boards from my pov. For example, in CA, a doctor diagnoses a patient with a condition that mj is approved to treat in the state. Patient takes the diagnoses and prescription card to a medical dispensary and is issued mj. In reality the process is a farce but that's state law and a doctor that's been approved to practice medicine by the state board does prescribes a patient medicine. If a doctor prescribed me something else that made me test positive on a drug test, I'd most likely just be able to bring a note from the doctor saying I'm taking percocets for an injury and that's why I tested positive for opiates. I know under federal law marijuana it's illegal, but I just think something along these lines would be a good way to bring this up through the courts and force the issue at the Federal level. Or a doctor will someday be punished by the feds for prescribing it and some well funded pro-legal group will back them. But I'm not a lawyer so maybe I'm just blowing smoke out my bum.

Although I did see there's a PE fund in Seattle that's doing all marijuana investments. Privateer. They just made a $50MM(?) investment into something like Bob Marley's children's pot brand, or something weird.

But as others have said, OP, don't risk it.

National law preempts state law. No way it'd make it to the supreme court unless you filled out a writ of certiorari and the court just really wanted to hear a pot case.
 

Obviously the best way to pass a test is to not smoke pot. What's the safest way to go skiing? Don't ski. How about if someone wants to know if a company drug tests, and you don't know, don't comment. OP wanted to know because obviously he or she smokes and wants to know ahead of time so that they can get clean/cheat the test. You all need to get off your high horses.

 

Itaque consequuntur unde dolorum ullam. Atque quis maiores est. Id sapiente consequatur dignissimos debitis. Adipisci eos aut animi nesciunt aperiam aut sunt. Quas saepe nihil aut amet.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”