By Kellen Russoniello, student, George Washington University Law Center and NORML legal intern
[Update: A federal judge ruled on April 26, 2012 that Florida’s drug testing law for unemployment benefits is unconstitutional.]As several states are considering or implementing policies that require recipients of government benefits such as welfare to undergo drug tests, the federal government has shown approval for the same flawed rationale. Last week, President Obama signed into law an agreement reached by Congress which maintains the payroll tax cut and extends unemployment benefits, but also allows states to drug test people who seek unemployment benefits if they were fired from their previous job for using drugs or if they are seeking a job that would ordinarily require drug tests.
The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, H.R. 3630, was signed on February 22, 2012. Section 2105 amends the Social Security Act by allowing states to drug test applicants for unemployment benefits and deny those benefits in the case of a positive result.
What percentage of those applying would be forced to pee in a cup? Although the numbers are unclear, Republicans had cited a study claiming 84% of employers required new hires to pass a drug test. Initially, Republicans had pushed for drug testing all applicants, but this was opposed by Democrats. In order to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment, however, Democrats caved on the issue of drug testing.
A columnist for Time pointed out several flaws in this policy. First, a single failure of a drug test does not treat addiction or even determine if treatment is necessary. In fact, because marijuana can stay in the body’s system for extended periods of time, drug tests are likely to disqualify cannabis users even though it is one of the least addictive drugs. Second, people may shift their use to other drugs, such as K2 or Spice, which are more difficult to detect in a urine screen but may be more detrimental to the person’s health. Third, creating obstacles for the unemployed to get back on their feet may actually worsen drug use, as it fosters anger and resentment.
Further arguments against this policy include that although the government estimates drug use among unemployed to be about twice that of the employed population, the rates of drug use among those applying for welfare benefits were found to be equal to the general population in Michigan when it tried to implement a drug test law, and much less than the general population in Florida. Not to mention, this type of policy is most likely unconstitutional.
Hopefully states will come to their senses and not opt to implement this policy. If your state is one of the 23 states considering mandatory drug testing for welfare benefits, contact your legislators and tell them to oppose these unsound and unconstitutional policies.
Every day i look and more laws are being made every day and every day we lose more of our freedom. It doesnt give me much hope for any good thing on the ballots this year. Even if we vote for things the federal government will stop it.
I like the idea myself and i smoke alot of weed, about an ounce of med grade each month, (a gram a day) and i have had 3 jobs that make ya piss in a cup. I have no problem sneaking in fresh piss for randoms (only one random ever) or pre employment. I like the idea that people who want to sign up for unemployment need to pass a piss test, that right there will help save alot of tax dollars that are spent on unemployment right now because mostly everyone is to stupid to figure out how to pass a drug test while stoned. Its going to keep the druggies (meth, crack, coke, extacy, and heroine junkies, not stoners…a stoner is not a druggie) out of taking advantage of the privilege they are given with unemployment. If your broke, hooked on drugs, homeless, or just fucking lazy and need to be on unemployment, the LAST fucking thing you need is to be doing any kind of drugs. If you give a druggie free money what the fuck do you think hes gonna spend it on,…DRUGS….i think its a great idea!
[Editor’s note: OK…beyond sounding like a flaming hypocrite, is it just your apparent hatred of people you perceive to be poorer than you, or, do you not know how a social safety net like welfare works?
Ever think that many of these recipients are folks who used to work before becoming unemployed and have paid years, or decades of state/federal taxes, FICA, Social Security, etc…?
Why shouldn’t they be able to draw down social benefits without having to submit their excrement to the government for chemical analysis when other recipients of government money don’t have to go through such a clear indignity and exposure to bogus scientific tests, including elected policymakers and their staff; contractors; religious institutions who administer to the poor; sports club owners who get multi-million dollar stadiums subsidized by taxpayers, etc…?
Can’t these recipients of billions annually in government money spend the loot on ‘drugs’ too? Why no drug tests for them?
If you smoke pot, seek to beat your drug tests at work, but support the government now having pee police, you’re one hypocritical puppy.]
This is completely insane. They inact these laws, never considering how much it will cost them. Duh, the whole country is broke. CA is also spending $$ on new technology to roadside test for THC. As we know this can stay in your system for some time. Another crazy law, which will cost a huge amount of money. Last in heard CA is also broke. If this country would WAKE UP and legalize mariquana and hemp. We could save ourselves. Apparently, our mostly inane legislaters would prefer to keep getting those big bucks from big Pharmacuticals. Which kill, unlike mariquana. Idiots.
As a strong supporter of legalization I actually agree with drug testing those for welfare and government compensation. If you can buy drugs, you should be able to afford to support yourself. Im not going to throw my tax dollars at you to feed your habit. I have felt this way since I was a youngin working at a grocery store. One day this lady comes in and buys tons of stuff with her food stamps. When her beer and cigarettes came up she pulls a HUGE wad of 100s and 50s out of her bra, peels off a 100, then yells at her kids saying “she can’t afford to buy them a candybar”. Fuck that, you abuse the system you should lose the system!
[Editor’s note: OK…the food stamp wad-slinging from the bra woman, child-in-tow was also probably black and driving a Cadillac, right? Can you come up with a more vicious stereotype of a welfare recipient to try justify your bias?
With this kind of flawed rationale, there is no reason why the millions of person who receives a student loan, Small Business Admin. loan, crop subsidies or GI bill benefits should not also join the welfare recipients to be subject to what would have to become a massive, multi-billion dollar pee police bureaucracy.
NORML says no to suspicionless, warrantless, not-for-cause drug tests from the big bad government, and yes to personal responsibility and freedom!]
The government continues its war on the American people. In our elected officials eyes, people who use marijuana do not deserve to be treated as fellow human beings with the same rights as non-users. Of course the sames rules do not apply to to congress, hell they can’t even grasp the idea that insider trading should be illegal for congress as it is for citizens.
Man. Voting is the only thing to stop it. Too many people are waking up. You got plenty of company.
If this is the case, I think the people need to vote to make congress and all elected official have to take random drug test to get their pay checks, which is tax payer’s money. They use up more money and are responsible for all the wasted spending our government seems to do. Besides the fact that this whole drug testing that they want to do will cost more money than it will save. Just look at Florida drug testing people on welfare.
You claim 50 percent support for legalization and yet your only stategy is to write letters and emails to lawmakers who at best will only ignore them. Where can I get tickets to NORML’s 100th birthday bash. Only 60 more years away.
[Editor’s note: Wrong on both counts.
1) NORML and other cannabis law reform organizations do far more than ‘just’ lobby our elected policymakers at the state and federal level. NORML litigates in the appellate courts. NORML has over 225 chapters that work around the nation to educate and politically organize cannabis consumers and the general public. NORML convenes, sponsors and attends dozens of pro-cannabis law reform protests and rallies. NORML educates the public with one of the most popular webpages on the Net, as well as a popular daily podcast and 24/7 ‘radio’ network online. NORML holds the biggest and most informative conferences and seminars. The organization has been running pro-reform ads campaigns and projects since 1970. And it now has a network of almost 1.2 million opt-in supporters via social networking pages like FaceBook, Twitter, etc…
2) Both NORML’s and New York Times statistics whiz Nate Silver’s estimates for when a super majority (60% support) for cannabis legalization is reached around 2021.
If more and more cannabis consumers and other like-minded citizens keep working hard, the end of Cannabis Prohibition appears in sight after 75 years. Finally.]
Let me get this correct. They are going to pay money to somebody for drug testing. Why don’t they save the money for unemployment benefits instead, or is that too simple?
When a man loses his job he shouldn’t lose his rights.
This is just down ridiculous.
Cussing is a must for this subject. Sorries.
I’m not sorry to say but these guys “state/federal” are fucking morons, complete utter fucking morons.
So tired of these idiots. One way or another they need to be banished into exile and should live in shame for the rest of their lives.
This includes this subject and the subjects about their stupid fricken garndarn making Marijuana illegal, denying that Marijuana helps lives, denying the entire existance how MARIJUANA HELPS SAVES LIVES. I’m in nothing but uttering fricken rage at these worthless pieces of shit, the dog shit on my work boot is worth more than the lives of these leeches.
God for sake. God for sake. God for sake.
Once laws passes to completly legalize Marijuana but first step is to legalize Medical Marijuana, is I cannot wait to say good ridance to these fuckheads.
The only person in the seat that has brains/balls/smarts is Ron Paul.
Terms cannot explain my anger torwards the US govt on how stupid they are.
God, it’s like talking to a brick wall, deaf, blind, dumb and ignorant as fuck.
Wow for those of you that are actually *for* this fascism drug-testing, I feel sorry for you for being such sheeple. In the first place, alcohol is in your system for 24 hours; I know someone who has a nice full time job with benefits, yet he’s got 3 or 4 DWI charges. When it comes to the harder drugs like heroin, coke, meth, etc., they’re only in your system for anywhere from 3-5 days (depending on your metabolism); so what group of people are they REALLY going after??? I’ve read online articles about this form of drug testing where only 3% (if that much), were coming up positive, where the rest of the 90-something percent are being punished. As far as the “welfare queens” term is concerned, that was a term made by the Reagen administration and again, only a sliver (like 1-3%) are actually that. Those who are not a member of the super-rich elite privileged class who parrot-off and mimic the same bigotry/bias/hatred the elite spouts off concerning the poor and poverty stricken are a sorry lot, indeed. All that attitude does is hold us back from realizing our true potential as human beings while keeping us from progressing forward. Just sayin’
If you live in Connecticut and want to end marijuana prohibition in our state, please take a minute to visit http://www.ctprimaryproject.com.
Please pass this on to anyone you know in Connecticut!
This is rediculous! At this rate we re going to need to rebel…. but honestly we need to vote for a party other than Republicans or Democrats they re both owned by the same elitist people. I don’t know if I’m the only one that realizes no matter republican or democratic every year more liberties are taken away and each president has gone against what they ve said in their campaigns. Become more educated… we need to vote outside of those parties and realize their real agenda which is just to fill their walefs and the wallets of those who help them at any cost! I like ron Paul but he’s under their party so what can he really do… I say vote Rosanne Barr or Gary Johnson in 2012!
Prison Planet
Is it any wonder that people turn to terrorism when pushed around like this. Sadly for every person driven to violent outbursts towards others, there are many more who turn on themselves and suicide.
This is just another act of crimes against humanity and there will be more of this the closer we get to ending the drug war.
The cornered beast syndrome dictates that as the offenders lose ground they become hysterical with fear and capable of any madness.
They are about to lose their power and privilege and have committed the most serious crimes under the guise of this oppressive law and they know that they will be called to account for their deeds.
Comes the time in the battle when the losing side is no longer fighting to win but just to stay alive. Watch out for them.
And when the war is over we will put them on trial and the collaborators who support them like the fascist hypocrites who have left the appalling comments I see left here already.
Legalize! Apologize! Compensate!
And lets commence the trials for crimes against humanity.
John Knighi A stonier is a druggie U Jack Wagon How Stupid can U be. If u Dont think Cannabis Is A Drug then u need to stop using this Drug. A person may not abuse this Drug And if they dint abuse it then they wont have to cheat on there Drug test. Now Lets Talk About its A good thing One of the Reason My Dad Went to war in WW2 was to keep our freedom like not having to hand over body fluid if u dont think this is wrong then I wish u would Pack your Shit up And Move to China Or some other None free country. And this will also led to more testing one Day u will have to piss teats to draw S-S When i think of the men and women who die just so u can have freedom GET THE HELL OUT OF MY COUNTRY NOW
This is bad business in general, and is a violation of liberty period. That said, as long as there are provisions in place for legal medical marijuana users, I think we’re making enough progress that by 2020 “drugs” will not include marijuana anymore than “drugs” now includes vodka.
It seems Connecticut is primed to be the 17th state to add Medical Marijuana. What’s amazing is they were ready, as a state, for 5 years already– ONE PERSON stopped things from changing (Jodi Rell).
And if even ONE of the national legalization efforts (I’m looking at you Washington & Colorado), we’ll be well on our way. I know everyone would love for Cali to go first but people out there seem to have their heads up their asses. They are too invested in the black & gray markets to go first.
GOOD! If I have to piss to get and keep a job that helps supports people on Welfare, they should also have to piss to get that money.
[Editor’s note: Bad! Here is why. Setting up more government, to test more pee unconstitutionally, during crushing recession times, is not the answer to the potential diversion of welfare funding to buy stuff you don’t think that they should….whatever it is from junk food to booze to pot to cigarettes to coffee to porn magazines, blah-blah-blah. Government agencies are supposed to track all this too, right? Do we need a government-mandated test for candy or porn now?
The better and more constitutional-friendly alternative to expensive and invasive government-mandated drug testing is debit cards that can only purchase a range of what are ‘accepted’ staples and basic necessities.]
It’s amazing how many Americans will trade in their rights for an assurance that those stationed below them in society will stay there. Way to kill the American dream guys. At least you get yours, since that seems to be the only thing that matters nowadays.
One fact I find downright risible is the failure to test for nicotine. Folks addicted to tobacco spend spend 10 to 20 minutes 4 or 5 times a day feeding their addiction. This is a productivity drain that would not ordinarily be tolerated by any industry in the world.
It’s all perfectly legal, though.
@Douglas
A coffee drinker is a druggie; or dint u no dat.
If you don’t like it here as the changes come, take your own advice.
guilty until proven innocent yet again eh? WTF!
To Editor RE John Knight: That was a really good comeback!
John Knight is right on 1 point though, but he worded it incorrectly: pot is in a different class than all other “drugs” and thus it should not be labeled as a “drug”. It’s fucking harmless. The whole drug testing process is aimed at pot smokers.
I truly believe it is almost entirely just a lack of intelligence by policy makers. Sure these laws are probably made with good intentions, and almost logical-seeming thinking. I don’t believe there is an actual decent statistical difference in drug use, and as NORML editors said these are people who were once working. It’s also a substantial waste in money for such small, if any, benefit.
Where can I find Congressional, Federal Gov’t employee and critical staff drug test results? I trust all members of the fedral gov’t, especially Congress, Pentagon elite, the Justice Dept. all submit to random drug testing. I would also figure since they are elected and or crucial to the security of American citizens that these results would be available to the public.
Don’t you want to know if your representative is “drug-free”? That 5 star general with his fingers on the nuclear button?
Drug testing the unemployed is a huge waste of tax-payer money. The unemployed for the most part did not cause their unemployment status. It’s the lawmakers that need to be screened… executives of gov’t entities. Wall St. CEO’s. Big Oil executives. Any active duty officer serving over-seas; they are responsible for overseeing subordinates, and creating a positive impression on foreigners.
I would even consider a ban on alcohol use while holding public office. Seems fair and reasonable given current attitudes towards “mind-altering” substances.
Least of all do we want a President who consumes alcohol in public or on national television. Portrays a very poor example to our youth!
It cost Florida $200,000 for 28 negatives. Just a heads up; Oswego County NY has a pilot program. What other nation on this planet ever entertains such schemes?! I pointed out to sen Shumer that Kevin Sabet is recorded as saying screening for relief is a bad idea in an E-mail. We should expect clear choice in November. And I assume that Dr. Paul voted against that, right?
Any person that even thinks ‘substance testing’ is remotely ok…
1. needs their head examined to see if they qualify to live in America.
2. needs their values examined to see if they belong in the Human race.
3. needs to be piss tested to see if they even know what it is.
4. needs an IQ test to see if they score over 10 or maybe 20 points.
5. needs to have a little sit-down-talk with Russ Belville for some basic education.
——
The so-called lawmakers,, well, they don’t command any respect for probably 99% of the population as it is, without any talk of UN-constitutional substance testing.
The so-called president lost all credibility the first time he lied to the people and the world. What did he lie about? pick a topic…..
———–
If you call yourself an American..
Where do you think the Patriots are?
Who do you think the Patriots are?
What do you think a Patriot is?
Have you read the Constitution of the United States of America..
I have a copy on my web site, if you can read.
http://www.lakesidecanvas.com/constitution-united-states-america
too much hypocrisy. i bet if marijuana was never illegal half of these people on wellfare would never have been on it and be productive, working citizens.
I’m at home today because I didn’t pass a drug screen for THC yesterday. At 8:15 a.m., I was told that I “shined” through the temp staff and was offered a good permanent position for good money with good benefits (for me anyway)….contingent on a clean drug screen and background check….well….I tried to use a product to clean the THC out of my system but I’d never used the product before and didn’t wait long enough before I took the test. Needless to say, I failed.
At 8:15 a.m. I was offered a good job because I shined…by 2:30 p.m. I was fired for being a leperous marijuana user!
And the only person I’m mad at is me, because I should have been smarter! I know I’ll feel better, but right now, all I want to do is take to my bed and wallow in pity and pain.
Everybody keeps talking about the constitution. Our government picks and chooses the parts they like and to hell with the rest of it. So I have to ask What Constitution?
Crossing the line. If they want to go this far, then they should be testing for alcohol use too. Of course not! Good ol’ harmless alcohol! So hypocritical
One of the main reasons why this law did not work in Florida was because the ratio of people who took the urine test and those that failed ended up costing the state more than they thought. Dumbing it down, the people that took the test actually passed therefore the number of people that the government assumed were on drugs was wrong. Another reason? Our “lovely” governor had his hand in the company that was giving these tests, but that is for a different argument. This is going to end up being crazy expensive for the country and once the government realizes it, they are going to withdraw the law and we are not going to hear anything about it for another year or so.
democracy is an illusion..now you see it..oh! no you don’t </3
I really happen to enjoy smoking marijuana.
But most of the people in the system for government benefits just won’t get off their lazy ass.
I work at the grocery store and people on f-ing food stamps have nicer everything than I do and I work for my money and am going to college.
This doesn’t make sense.
You want free bees from the government, you should have to piss for them.
the ignorance in this society is running ammuck…..if you are on welfare you have to have an income. if you have an income, you ARE a taxpayer. we dont ua politicians who are getting free money to campaign with. most people who smoke weed arent worthless pieces of shit that let their families go without so they can feed their addiction. most people who smoke have their bills paid and food in their kitchen. that should be all that matters. that their families are taken care of first. all these republicans think pot smokers do is sit around and do drugs without taking care of their families. my mother smoked pot all day every day and she was the best mom in the world! she not only took care of her own children, but also others. alcohol is the true destroyer of families. when have you ever seen someone high on marijuana beat their spouse or children. if anything marijuana would help prevent abuse, because it calms people. parents high on marijuana are more likely to cook food for their children whereas parents that are drunk or on hard drugs have an inability to care for their family. why are americans so scared of marijuana? other countries have saw and taken advantage of the benefits of marijuana. why are we so uptight? we are uptight because of ignorance. people who have never used marijuana are scared. the government (who cant be trusted anyways) have utilized scare tactics for decades. telling the american people how horrible the effects of marijuana are. have you seen the articles on marijuana from back in the 20’s or even the 50’s and 60’s. some of the things they have said about marijuana is hilarious because its so proposterous! get educated.
This is pure Communism; I have worked for 28years without having to use unemployment, I have earned it I do not have to prove anything to get it! This is just more political BS to keep MY F%^en money! Time to get rid of the Fed’s!!!
What about the people who have a prescription that has thc in it? Are they going to pay the cost to break down the amount of thc in the body or is it going to be the person being tested that has to pay this cost? I am a patient who due to my eyes puts thc in my body through prescription drugs and the cost to break this down is expensive. the goverment will not pay it if your on probation so who is going to pay to make sure I only have the prescribed amount in my system! This is not a free country when we have to give the goverment our body fiuld what happen to our rights I don’t want to share my body or fiuld with anyone. It is a sad day when we act like this country is free and in fact we are living in a goverment controlled country that we pay the wages health insuance etc of we pay and they make us give up our body fiuld how about we drug test them and there families for a while see how they like it I bet 90% fail the test.
Besides this being Bullshit, WHY does it fall under the Social Security Act? Will I soon have to piss in a cup to get my SSDI check? As marijuana is illeagal at the federal level it would’nt matter that I live in a state (MI) with a card. Tacking it on to the SS act is just the begining
Why are none of these so called law makers not taking the same tests?
Do they not receive public money?
Do they not SERVE the public?
Before any other random citizen has to submit to these tests, we need to make sure each and every so called ‘representative’ in DC has turned over their samples for testing.
Who is to say that mother with the was of bills in her bra didn’t just cash her check and was carrying her rent??? Maybe she was a part of the working poor and that cash was theoretically already spent? How come if you are poor and have a drink you are an alcoholic, but if you are rich its socializing?
Good bye Fourth Amendment. So much for my civil liberties, now the government wants to make employers drug test all prospective employees? This is gone on long enough, the ignorance of the common middle class voter is killing our country. We need people to learn the facts with an open mind.
Perhaps instead of debating this on the social impact and impact on patients we should look at the numbers. The people who believe this is a good idea have no clue how bad the cost benefit works out. The amount of money states spend vs the amount that they save is showing this program costs the tax payers millions for every thousand it might save. Check out the numbers for FL, the amount they spent to institute the drug testing program was the real cost to the tax payers. After all the testing found very few welfare reciepients tested positive so almost no money was saved, but much was spent on the testing program.
This is why we need to not just worry about presidential elections and the primaries. We need to vote these A holes out of our congress. They are all corrupt pieces of crap. http://www.goooh.com
The link is for the website Get Out Of Our House. Info about people who are running for State and Congressional representatives. Vote the career politicians out of office. RP 2012!!!
if i have have to take a piss test just so i can work for money then yes welfare recipients should fill up to so they can get my tax dollars
[Editor’s note: Is a drug test the ONLY unconstitutional measure you want to employ against the poor or down-on-their-luck?? Are there not other pseudo scientific tests you want to have the taxpayers spend money, through yet another govt program, to determine that welfare recipients spend funds on things you agree with??
What if the person needed medical cannabis? Should they be denied welfare from using a natural medical herb that stops them from throwing up, shaking violently or migraine headaches?
And this while govt contractors, policymakers/staff and law enforcement do NOT have to take drug tests to procure their taxpayer-provided funds.
Just say no to unconstitutional drug testing.]
Testing to get my UI benefits? UI is forcibly deducted from our pay to “help” us when we lose our jobs, Why not this? test us before you steal our money under the pretense of “insuring” us against job loss, anyone testing dirty does not have to pay IN to this corrupt bullshit.
this is the same hypocritical republican party that wants to get government out of our lives, reduce government spending? WTFH?!?!?
Sigh.
To the people saying, “If I have to take a test…” You DON’T have to take a test. Stop allowing other people to control YOUR bodies. If you choose to let jobs overstep their bounds, it’s your choice, and not one that should be used as a litmus test for Congressionally-approved bodily invasion.
I wonder why George Orwell failed to see the advent of drug testing?
The sooner Marijuana legalization happens in the United States, the tests like these will be repealed. The problem is the legalization process in states like Chicago,New York etc need to happen sooner rather than later. Because places get paid to do these types of tests and this is all due to medical marijuana plain and simple.
thehat; Do you believe that managing substances should be based on their properties on the human organism or politics? Would that person be offensive for buying cat food? Do you realize that cultivating is treated as trafficking in federal law? Consider the context of your point,man!
Thehat you wrote that you’re for legalization!
The ONLY people that should be drug tested are all the politicians and substance abuse officials. I think we better see whats in their urine and bloodstreams.
Then say to these Representatives: do your jobs and let the money go where it belongs. We just want to make sure that you are making level headed decisions and not on drugs and politicking
this is just another way this incompetent government of ours is trying to get out of paying us citizens that have always worked and pay our taxes if we lose our jobs we must go thru this bullcrap.I say HELL no to this policy as everyone else should,whats next some freaking test to see how many beers or cigarettes we smoke to consider if we qualify for any assistance we might need if we needed to ask for it… we the people have got to say enough to these conservative idiots it’s looking more like were headed to communism, with a democracy blanket over it to cover the ugliness of this whole big brother watching our every move……………
Then maybe they might not be so keen on the idea. It might make it seem like we don’t trust them. It might be too intrusive then. Maybe all the Judicial system Judges too. Lets all get drug tested right now and end all this nonsense.
I propose an idea. Lets call ROBERT L. DuPONT and PETER B. BENSINGER and see if they can arrange a drug test sent out with every tax return. That’s the only way we can find out if all you guys are on the up and up.
This is a shame to get a law that may be good and mix in the same old BS drug testing. Specifically unemployment benefits, are not some gift, and it is not right to deny those benefits to anyone,( barring violence or theft on the job), especially if they failed a piss test that may indicate weeks old off the job use of weed.
As far as welfare recipients, there are other ways to determine if someone is using the system, like never applying for work etc. Do not be a hater, its not just your tax money.
Eliminates the real druggies I think its a good idea. Save tax payer money instead of throw it away to addicts, who are not trying to better themselves.
[Editor’s note: Who are the “real druggies”? The alcohol addicts? Tobacco addicts? Pill addicts? As long as cannabis is included in government drug testing, everyone in the eyes of the feds who uses cannabis, for whatever reason, including state-sanctioned medical cannabis use, is a “real druggies”.
Just say no to government-mandated, suspicionless searches of one’s excrement–for whatever reason!]
A good friend of mines father had worked in the steel mills for 35 years working 15-18 hours a day and I believe he had accepted the weekends from steel workers that had called off or accepted the extra man hours. He worked and operated in the 120f+ degree steel mill.
Well, it so happened he caught the rarest disease that caused him to go blind.
He doesn’t smoke bud. Even though he had might got his benefits, workmans comp and ect.
For the ones that could catch diseases like this without benefits would have to go unemployment after 35 years of hard work and get diability, unemployment = piss test.
This could happen to anyone and then you’re fucked.
I am speaking towards people like Dan.
Point being, it could happen to you. Now to collect unemployment you’ll have to piss test.
BTW, what about Cancer patients and other diseased patients that collects unemployment? Now either they are gonna have to stop medicating and suffer the terrible pains that these diseases cause to collect unemployment or keep medicating and lose unemployment.
It is 110% completely unfair. You know how many people I’ve met that are on methadone and collect unemployment aka wellfare without needing to piss test? Least 5, not friends, just people I’ve met, not really met because they looked like they were in a coma sitting up, should have said how many have I’ve seen.
There are so many direction scenarios this could go.
Dans statement makes no sense. Maybe your tax dollars are going towards the gun powder to fill up the bullets for M16’s for the solders over seas that shot their selves committing suicide, or your tax dollars are paying for the methadone for drug addicts that don’t need to take a piss test or maybe your now your tax dollars are being wasted to drug test on wasted passed tests or failed piss tests, either way if this passes or passed you’re paying in one way or another to the retarded minds of the govt.
It is ignorant to hear people speak like this. Well, I put up with it because its your right to speak freely, Now, if your right to speak freely was taken, you wouldn’t be able to speak freely, just like now, they are taking citizens rights to fucking piss test to get unemployment, if they fail the piss test because they smoked some Marijuana that a friend like Dan lit a blunt up and shared it they lose unemployment or lose it because they have a harsh disease and is a must to medicate.
This bill or w/e it is called is fucking dumb.
Hope I got my point across :).
-cheers to once again wasted tax payers money.
We are all just fucking slaves.
“Only those who are actually injured by DEA’s refusal to reschedule cannabis have standing to submit DEA’s potential actions in this area to judicial review by the federal courts”?
*Thx “JG” for what you’ve done in totality.*
This has been tossed back and forth by the DEA and HHS for many years and for an extensive duration the DEA saw no purpose in it’s properties but as time has come/gone at this juncture the entity that has been stalling progress is HHS. Please, acknowledge what we’re here to convey. Accept this and begin the restoration process for all involved. This policy of incarcerating individuals and taking their livelihoods, families and futures from them for choosing a safer alternative has to end. You may think that what is happening to this community is appropriate and true but I would have to respectfully disagree. All I ask is that you intrinsically search and if you truly believe that these acts of condemnation need continue then we are far more polarized than I ever imagined and that will prove detrimental to humanity as a whole for the foreseeable future.
One day it will be and by the grace of those hearts by true leaders that have no need/want for the affliction of the governed it shall be and we shall all rejoice in thanks and giving.
o.k. since big brother is probably reading this–i can only say it is time to move to amsterdam!!! i love America, but it not the land of the free and the home of the brave anymore!!! tired of right wingers,tea parties, and uptight filthy rich only wanting to get richer politicians!!!!! pretty soon they will want to tax us for air that we breathe, be it smokey or not!! there is only one way to pay off the world debt-legalize marijuana, let the farmers grow, be paid by the gov’t.as cash crops use to be,put them back to work on farms, create jobs,let the gov’t package like cigarettes, and sell legally. not all smokers are deadheads!! something has to give!! COMMENTS?? oh, yes, the remains of plants, after harvesting can be made into many products,clothing for one! hemp is used for numerous things!
AT Galileo Galile Since when did i say coffee was not a Drug.? And if u think that seeing folks Buying Tobacco/ Alcohol / And junk food that on Government Food card Does not burn me Really dont know Who I am. U sound like a young person that does not know what Freedom is. How precious it is. U telling me to get out of my country Be cause I want to protect our freedom. Its Ones like u that are causing us to lose our Freedom. ARE U EVENING RESISTER TO VOTE? No u are not. So get out of my Country go live in China
It’s obvious to anyone who bothers to think about it how ridiculous this new law is, but I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon, unconstitutional or not. The rhetoric directed at people who don’t want to think it out for themselves is unfortunately convincing.
Baseless sentiments against welfare recipients are fantastically popular not just among the rich, but throughout the employed middle class as well. The congresspeople who penned this law are telling their constituents “Studies estimate the unemployed are twice as likely to use drugs as average Americans. We’re going to stop those druggies stealing your hard-earned tax dollars”. It doesn’t matter that they’re lying through their teeth on both counts, it sounds nice to a population living in a recession that already loves to hate the unemployed.
As for why it passed in the first place, that’s right in the article: partisan bullshit. I guess we can take some small comfort from the fact that we got an extension on unemployment benefits tied to a terrible drug-testing policy instead of no extension whatsoever. It’s unfortunate that our government can’t consistently deliver anything much better than “not quite the worst possible outcome”.
This is unconstitutional since people who have their own business or the wealthy won’t have to test.
“Thinking Clearly”, don’t give the urine fetishists any ideas. I’m sure this is a long term plan for them.
As far as drug testing goes, let’s start with congress and state legislatures first.
The experiment failed in Florida. What part of FAILURE does the congress not understand?
The long term plan may be to test anyone and everyone. Ultimately, only the Government and the drug testers win. Read this if you want to find out who won when Nixon decided to criminalize America. http://blog.norml.org/2012/02/27/marijuana-prohibitionists-and-profiteers-naked-opposition-exposed-in-the-new-york-times/
All I have to say is, you first!
Could drug testing administrators lie about the test? If so, what could you do, continue to play their game at your own expense? Challenge them in court?
Would you be on government file and have your name listed that you have refuse a drug test?
Too many questions and the law is unconstitutional. But if the U.S. Supreme Courts says it is okay, what are you going to do about it?
What other drug testing abuses will become law?
Anger and Resentment, thats right on. I feel plenty of that. I know how to deal with this crap, but I better not say it here.
Nobody should be subjected to a drug test, whether it be for a job, unemployment benefits, food stamps or otherwise. Our politicians don’t have to submit for drug testing, yet make 6-figure annual incomes, off of our backs. They’re the true “welfare queens.”
As far as all the benefits marijuana provides (besides the THC content), I think the politicians are well aware of them all; they make more money by keeping it illegal and be shaming us by submitting us to drug testing. It’s very hypocritical considering how long other drugs are in one’s system, considering the damaging effects of alcohol (on self as well as one’s family), cig.’s and junk food. Has drug testing somehow made our country any safer?? No. Has it done anything positive for us as a society?? No.
One more thing: I would much rather have an individual on welfare, or unemployment, or SSI/SSDI providing for themselves and loved ones legally as opposed to being homeless and on the streets, committing crimes to survive. Study your history, folks; more specifically, study the Great Depression of the 1930’s and why programs like Social Security and welfare came about in the first place.
“…but also allows states to drug test people who seek unemployment benefits if they were fired from their previous job for using drugs or if they are seeking a job that would ordinarily require drug tests.”
Now how in the world are they going to decide who is seeking a job that would ordinarily require a drug test? When you are on unemployment only when you reach your extended benefits or if you are ‘randomly selected’ to show proof of the jobs you have applied for does Unemployment even know what jobs you have applied for.
Do they have a list of those jobs that test and those that don’t?
Are they going to spout-out that they are now going to be creating jobs by testing…someone has to go out and verify this information?
It’s just downright nonsense. If they want to call out those who get tax money then they should be looking at ALL folks who get tax money and that would be Congress, Senate, state and locally elected officials, judges, Post Office employees: the list is endless.
The real winners in this whole fiasco are those that manufacture, distribute and perform drug tests.
The losers are those that value individual rights.
I am a cannibas supporter but if you want to sit on your ads and get government assistance such as food stamps welfare or anything else you better be able to see in a cup and pass. I am sorry not everyone is a drug addict but a lot of the people in this country are and they are living off of the hard workers of this country and I am tired of it. For example my neighbors are addicted to heroin and have 2 children guess what they live in a nice house eat what ever they want and don’t work but receive all there money from the government and both of them are able to work they are in there twenties but it is easier to just get a check in the mail every month and i know that they aren’t the only ones in the u.s. that do this it makes me sick. I work hard everyday pay my own bills and receive nothing from our government. Which is fine but it isn’t are governments job to pay for people to live this country is in the crapper and it is because of stuff like this unemployment welfare, food stamp and disability is all a joke and shouldn’t be in place but if it is you better be clean and what does it matter people would still find a way to pass the test
[Editor’s note: Just say no to suspicionless, warrantless and expensive govt-mandated drug testing. Period. For whatever reason the govt cooks up.
Casting a critical eye to your apparently lazy, heroin-addicted neighbor (according to you, and of course neighbors always know the intimate details of the lives of others’….) is one thing, but having taxpayers waste even more money on drug testing and more govt agencies to gather and analyze the excrement, especially for cannabis, when these same supposedly heroin addicted neighbors can pass a drug test readily by beating it through adulteration, substitution, etc…or, just drug substitute the week of testing to say binge drinking alcohol, which is perfectly legal and welfare recipients are not tested, will not likely preserve one more precious tax dollar, while, doing great harm to science and the Constitution.]
Since when do the bonus recipients at Bain Capital or eksonmobil get screened for their bonuses.
I say if they implement this drug testing crap and if our efforts to legalize Marijuana fail then we will need to resort to plan B. Violence.
Drug testing is a fascist idea invented by men who enjoy the manipulation and control. Who profits from a drug test? Certainly the drug testers. Nixon and the Father of drug testing ROBERT L. DuPONT.
Behavior modification and Government is a match made in hell.
Prohibition and drug testing. Nixon and DuPont. 1984 came early.
Only elected officials and goverment employees should be required to pee. Especially those that have the RIGHT to punish you.
Drug Testing violates of the 4th amendement. It is a self incriminating chemical loyalty oath. Will congress submit to these draconian measures? Why does the quality of a persons’ bodily fluids determine the quality of their life? Everyone on this board makes excellent points!Now only if common sense would be applied to those in the Congress as they apply uncommon,unwarranted, and unacceptable means to justify their agenda which is total control.
“The constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government.” Patrick Henry
You know, truth be known, I don’t even wish this stuff on the Legislature. Just tell me please, why something that was developed to treat junkies is being applied to unemployment compensation and the rest of the country?
Because anyone that takes anything is a CUSTOMER for a Substance Abuse counselor or a judge. It forces people to obey. It makes big money for testing labs and agencies and Corporations. Its expensive and all that money from the war on drugs supports this s..t . Courts love it, and don’t think its to help. You can’t help somebody that doesn’t sincerely want the help. What the hell are we doing using it our court systems? And in our Unemployment Compensation system. Its not supposed to be more than a hand up anyways that the employee has ultimately paid for himself. Its not a handout. Even if it was, drug testing was made to treat junkies not regular Americans trying to go about the business of living.
This is the slap on the hand to America for daring to protest the prohibition of marijuana.
Behavior modification.
Did they so soon forget how testing worked out for welfare recipients in FL? What a joke.
Man I am Pissed,pardon the pun.How is it that we have put so many politicians in office that care only breaking the American people’s balls. They’re not helping anyone by cutting off their subsidy. All they are doing is giving money to their buddies in the pee testing business,and taking it away from the American people who need it. Just another success story for the 1% lobby.
They just want more people in jail that’s all. People will just sell drugs or commit other crimes to pay for the lack of welfare. They’ll get caught, go to prison, make some rich fuck richer…. The system and life goes on. We ain’t seen nothing yet. The government is twisted in more ways than most of us know. Each piss test probably costs around fifty bucks a head no? In the future more people will depend on benefits. The government is going to continue to make life harder for people, and its gonna cost them allot of money. The government fucked itself right there I’m afraid. Making drug addicts piss in a cup solves nothing. Hasn’t it been proven that a bad addict will chose drugs over food? Do dumb shit to obtain both? This isn’t about saving money at all. This is about thinning the herd. Sick motherfuckers. May God have mercy on their souls.
More prisons is right up their alley. That’s the business they are in. Incarceration, more war on drugs money.
It is already being done to our Vets. No veteran will get any opiate pain meds unless they sign a drug screen contract which calls for random drug screening, none. I don’t know when this was but in place but it wasn’t in place back in the 90’s, I know because I didn’t have to sign anything back then. I guess it was only a matter of time before it hit the civilan population, there is also no appeal process in place either, again I tried, and to make matters worst your name flashes up as a drug failure evertime someone acesses your file so that everybody sees it. I am not going to add too any thing that has already been said, we all know this is a violation of our civil rights so what are WE (the people) going to do about it?
The problem with the cannabis drug test is that it unfairly “catches” drug use long after any impairment from usage. The test, in fact, measures an inactive metabolite rather than active drug.
I would not have a problem if the test looked at *active* THC such that only recent usage likely to affect job performance (i.e., within the past 24-36 hours). The current test is a fishing expedition that is a travesty.
Committed to Cartels and crime.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/03/05/140884/in-central-america-biden-shoots.html
Just say no to government-mandated, suspicionless searches of one’s excrement–for whatever reason!
lol well said they should not be able to piss test people for no reason it is demeaning. To Sam Blake wanting to get rid of all the “real” druggies and blah blah. What makes you think you are so much better than addicted people? I don’t see why people hate these people so much I have met a lot of people addicted to a lot of different drugs and they are not the horrible people most people try to make them out to be. As for the drug test them so they don’t sit on their ass and take taxpayer money argument first thing these people can’t get jobs because everyone hates druggies so they are often forced to go get government help and second if you don’t give desperate people at least something to live on they are going to be destitute and starving and they will be robbing your house so they can eat. Also the money these guys rip of from the government in insignificant compared to the amount of money the government spends on the war on drugs and drugs testing etc. Quite being such insensitive assholes people who are addicted are people to you are just furthering the propaganda that addicted people are not people so it is ok to lock them up and do things you wouldn’t do to “real” people. For the record a lot of the most hard working people I know use hard drugs and I mean manual labor not a sit behind a desk job. I work at a small clinic and know a lot of people and for the most part the majority of people are addicted to something cigarettes, caffeine, alcohol, food, and many other socially accepted things. Sorry for my rant everyone but the all the hate that substance addicted people get really bothers me. To me it is just like 100 years ago when everyone was wanting to string up the niggers it is discrimination based on misinformation. Hopefully we will all learn to get along someday.
we cannot allow our government to control what goes into us and then cast what comes back out. we have a serious serious problem with that line of thinking.
You can negate anyone with a drug test. Its a humbling experience.
This is as bad as requiring a pee test at the grocery store before being allowed to put food on the table.
Ridiculous.
“the Fourth Amendment precludes the suspicionless search, no matter how conveniently arranged.”
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
All this drug tesing, in my book, is at the very least suspicionless.
“the Fourth Amendment precludes the suspicionless search, no matter how conveniently arranged.” Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
WHAT??? Is the novel ‘1984’ a field manual for the feds??? This is starting to get a little too creepy. We need to reach the voters. Even if they are of the 50% that DON’T favor legalization they should be very, very concerned (and I would think they would want to know) that this so-called “government” so easily picks and chooses which of our RIGHTS will be ripped from us whether we like it or not.
The USA is the only nation I know of that uses pre-employment screening. This is all unconstitutional. Why not saliva testing? That is the most single standard solution out there.
Hey we could always work for Anheuser-Busch. They want a pee test AND a hair test to sell their crappy product that kills on average, 75,000 people a year. Drink up!
I agree pee tests in general are unconstitutional, but so is people getting free money. Welfare only contributes to crime, including the drug war.
Kevin Sabet said then that welfare drugs screening is a bad idea at that debate. They’re shouldn’t be that BS for any one. Georgia too has a legislative agenda http://www.politicususa.com/georgia-drug-testing/They sure must have an eccentric notion of meeting people halfway by pushing that.
Managers want production, employers want abolute control.
@ getridofwelfare. First of all, Unemployment ISN’T welfare. You work and pay into the unemployment fund and then, when you are actually unemployed it is supposed to allow you to keep a roof over your head and food on your table while you look for another job. That is why it is called unemployment INSURANCE. Secondly, it isn’t welfare that contributes towards crime. It is POVERTY. Welfare allows folks with little or nothing to keep food on their table. Poverty fosters crime. NOT Welfare.
Actually unemployment benefits became welfare when they extended the length multiple times. And there is no one ‘looking for another job’ when they let you stay unemployed for Over 52 weeks. Welfare contributes to crime by allowing people who don’t want to work abuse the system. I’m not sure what this ‘unemployment insurance’ is coming from. That is TAX PAYER’S DOLLARS. People on welfare should have to piss, simple as that. If you don’t want to piss, get off welfare with the rest of us hard working folks.
[Editor’s note: This ‘let’s drug test the citizen’ scheme will only make sense if ALL recipients of government-funded programs also have to go through an excrement analysis. Recipients like ALL government workers, all college students with loans, all small business administration loans recipients…and for this matter all private companies that in turn want to do business with the feds through the General Services Administration (ie, hotels, airlines, computer companies, etc…).
Insisting on drug testing for welfare is both too narrow in scope and bias to be either effective or cost efficient.
Just say no to ALL suspicionless, warrantless, baseless and scientifically bogus government-mandated drug testing for recipients of unemployment benefits, no matter what your rationale to the contrary.]
I think the drug testing keeps us arguing with each other while they continue to slip us the goose. This is America. WTF is this drug testing horse hockey? People have been productive and supporting this society just fine for years without this irrelevant, harmful, intrusion on liberty and privacy. American workers are being treated like disposable commodities. My Dad used to say “if everyone else jumps off the bridge does that mean you should too?”. Just because you have to be drug tested for any reason does not make it ok. This is population control by Govenment not private industry anymore. Unless you are a junkie and need help, or a medical patient that needs his medication level checked (that’s the original selling point for drug testing)no one should have to go through it in a free society. Period. Not even the holier than thou’s.
I say ban drug testing. Period. It is an assault against Liberty. Against you. Against all of us.
I would also restrict behavior modification to the local dog pound.
Why is drug testing for everyone else and not for the feds? since the state must have this than why are not they in charge instead of the feds?
We need a new Congress. Prerequisite: must like to get high on God’s medicine.
Seriously, these guys are trampling on the most basic of human rights, the right to care for one’s own body, mind, and spirit as each individual chooses.
The government, my employer, and every other man has no business intruding here. This is sacred ground.
They are false accusers, slanderers, and hypocrites who malign the cannabis user and seek to destroy him.
Woe to them who persecute God’s children!
Hey, We needs to sit down and expression about drug test on workers and the patients and it’s needs to remove the drugs test them and allow them to relax themselves by using cannabis as a medicines.. It’s time to stop letting crimials and felonies getting rich by selling it.. I vote to remove any kind of drugs test and legalize the cannabis so the states will improve their budgets and not let those damn crimials and felonies getting rich and rip people off.. AMEN!!!!!!!
Hey, I have been rearching about cannabis and before in 1930’s there was legalize cannabis and found only few crimes there then after 1930’s then they decided to illegal the cannabis then the crimes are very way higher then add a bullshit the drugs test why take on good people who use cannabis as their medicine ? Most people don’t realize that cannabis is a herb and it created by our heavenly father that provide it to people who are very sensitive from dangerous man made prescriptions…
It time to legalize the cannabis and stop bullshit drama about cannabis and VOTE to legalize it… REMOVE the drugs test, PERIOD !!!!!
The system in place to help people that can’t find work & not able to work . Not just don’t want to”. For the ones that keep having baby’s while on welfare they need to get a 10% reduction after their kid.
These able body people need to get their butt out there make their living.
sick of lazy ,lying ,cheating low life’s.
So Im forced to pee in a cup. This is not a free country.
This is BS I always get positive for cocaine even though I never do it. Where’s the justice?
SSI is for helping those who can’t work.
I can’t work. Period.
And to take this further. If I lose my SSI Im going to kill myself.
Because Its not my fault.
Even though Im clean, I still will come up positive for something, ’cause all the psychotropic meds I take.
Yes they know what drug causes positive results. However they dont know my body and how it works. They need more research. Not stupidity and lack of understanding.
Just because the paper turns blue doesn’t mean it’s blue.
i personally like the fact that we have to get drug tests to get a job. If you wanted honest hardworking employee’s would you hire someone who does drugs? to get a job you must get a drug test. but to collect unemployment all you have to do is try to get a job(and by try all you have to do is apply) even if you get offered the job but say im over qualified for it you can turn it down and continue to collect unemployment. why should hard working Americans work to make money for themself and for the other people that dont want to work? the people that argue this are people who collect unemployment and people who abuse the system. if you dont like the fact that you need to take a 5 minute drug test then your obviously on drugs and cant pass.
Weed, Legalize it! Psychotropic drugs( prescripts for pain, bipolar, anxiety, Schizophrenia) ban it or require them to pee monthly to ensure no other drugs are being abused. To many pain pill poppers abuse their pills and FAKE pain they don’t have, which explains false doctor visits for dilaudia because they’re jonesing for pain drugs Like someone I know, and really have nothing wrong with them and are able to work! Get off your ass lazy biatch. Other harder drugs should be tested for for current patients of pschotropic meds to but should let weed be the only exception. Also new applicants for SSI are tested ( I guess) but should be approved if unable to work even the simplest tasks like gas attendant or janitorial can mentally break a person down because of stress, and weed should still be an exception. I can’t hold a job, been outta work for 5 yrs now, applied everywhere simple enough for my mentality to handle, smoke weed because no meds, and our government is being douchebags by denying me SSI because of a belief of simple work is possible but yet I can’t even handle that. Now a pee TEST! Really! Rise up my ANONYMOUS friends and take down government ASAP. Government not for the people are out for themselves just like hmmm…Hitler,Stalin,Kim Jong,and other Communist Dictators. If our government don’t shape up quickly it will cause a Civil War, the disabled Vs Congress and yes even the military will revolt against its government because of the lack of what is owed to them and their families that also have disabled members whether physically or Mentally.