Stoners Still Demonized by Hypocritical Minority
May 27th, 2009 by Russ
As the medical marijuana movement gains traction in the West, some formerly reclusive smokers are boldly revealing themselves to an intolerant minority. This week, Steve Elliot’s moving piece in the SFWeekly targeted some of the “anti-marijuana zealots” most popular tactics against medical herb patients.
One tool of the intolerant is the business community practice of mandatory drug testing. Workplace drug testing practice has spread exponentially since the early 1980s despite a complete lack of evidence proving any effectiveness at all. In fact, the most cited statistics used by the drug testing purveyors appeared in a 1972 anti-drug newsletter. There has never been a proven link between workplace drug testing and increased productivity.
In fact, most businesses spend upwards of $77,000 per test, despite the fact that the process is rife with false positives, false negatives, and makes no distinction between at home drug use and on the job drug use. Most often, drug testing simply encourages drug users to switch from more easily detectable drugs (weed, which can be detected for six weeks after use) to much more dangerous substances (cocaine and meth pass through the body in two days or less.)
It is simply by virtue of an effective drug testing industry marketing campaign that businesses have been duped into creating a climate of discrimination against weed smokers. Much like the rest of the anti-drug lobby, facts, evidence, and critical thinking don’t come into play.
It’s time for the business community to realize that medical marijuana users are not only backed by the state government, but completely righteous in their use. There is no moral or legal distinction between them and other workers who may take antidepressants, high cholesterol pills, or an evening brandy.
The only distinction is a physiological one; that is the weed smokers are less likely to be addicted to their medicine than virtually any prescription-toters in the company.
Marijuana Becomes New Steroid for Sumo Wrestlers
April 28th, 2009 by Russ
In a sport that values the munchies, weed is considered a dangerous game-changer. According to Tokyo’s Associated Press, the Japan Sumo Association has begun a policy of random drug testing of its wrestlers in the wake of a national series of high profile weed-related scandals.
Last month, 25-year old sumo wrestler Wakakirin was arrested in Roppongi, Tokyo for alleged marijuana possession. The JSA acted quickly to expel Wakakirin from the league, ostensibly ending his career as a professional sumo.
Unlike frivolous weed scandals involving Olympic snowboarders and NBA athletes, marijuana (as an appetite stimulant) could seriously be considered a performance-enhancing drug for the rotund wrestlers. The primary training regimen of sumo combatants involves chugging large quantities of a pork-based stew called ‘chankonabe.’ Wrestlers who can pack in the most ‘chanko,’ gain the most weight, and are more likely to qualify for the prestigious heavyweight division.
Drug Testing for Pro-Snowboarders Kills Sport
February 24th, 2009 by Silvio
“Hi, I’m Paul. I’m with USADA and I’m here to watch you piss in this cup.”
That’s what Mason Aguirre, a 21-year-old pro-snowboarder, heard after he was woken up by the door bell. Paul works for the United States Anti-Doping Agency, and as of January 1, 2009, the gloves came off when it comes to fighting dope. Literally.
New regulations demand that every athlete competing in the Olympic games, (not only snowboarders,) are required to hand in a timetable that states their whereabouts for the following three months. This starts 12 months before the games. So you would have to know exactly where you will be everyday for the next three months because the tests are appointed at random. Not only that. You would have to make a window of one hour with your exact location. If you aren’t available at this specific one hour window at the exact location you submitted three months ago, your drug test will count as “missed.” Three of these “missed tests”, and you are very likely not going to be able to participate in the games.
The problem here is: due to the nature of the pro-snowboarding culture, most athletes will not be able to tell you where they will be next week, let alone three months from now. Contests pop up out of nowhere, weather conditions change. It’s not like these guys hang out in a gym and throw hoops or practice asymmetrical bars. Sure, weather conditions are important for almost all outdoor sports events. But every skiing event will be announced ages before it comes up. The same goes for any other “traditional” sports event. Lots of snowboarding events on the other hand, are nothing but lose gatherings of friends. Spontaneous. That’s part of the culture. You take this away, you take away the spirit of the sport.
The biggest attention if it comes to drug testing in the snowboarding realm seems to be focused on marijuana. That may be because of past “scandals” or the general perception that happy people, doing things they enjoy, are a serious threat to society and sports.
I also never understood why marijuana would be considered performance-enhancing. And that’s the point behind doping screenings, or not? To find performance enhancing substances. So it actually does make you a better athlete? I am so very confused now. HELP!
[Thanks, Colin]
Drug Testing Facts: Urine FAQ
December 11th, 2006 by Alex
Here’s a website that I’m sure plenty of you employees-to-be out there will really appreciate – Drug Test Facts.
Specifically, this part of the site covers frequently asked questions on urine testing. As we all know, urine testing is the most common form of drug testing for probation mandates and job qualifications.
This site really breaks it down. Here’s a list of all the subjects this FAQ covers:
- products that don’t work
- how THC stays in the body
- timeframe for chronic smokers
- timeframe for occasional smokers
- tips for passing a drug test
- info on home drug testing kits
- diet tips that improve THC pass-through
In other words, if you have any questions at all about urine tests, Drug Testing Facts is where you’ll find the answers.
Maurice Taylor Suspended by NBA
December 11th, 2006 by Alex
Perennial All-Star Maurice Taylor has been officially warned by the NBA for his 1st positive drug test.
Hmm, that’s not right. Let’s try this again…
Bargain-basement small forward Maurice Taylor has been suspended for 5 games after his 3rd positive drug test. Picked up by the Sacramento Kings after being dumped by the Knicks during pre-season, Big Mo has yet to score a single point.
As a former college standout, Maurice isn’t doing as well as people predicted but his rapid decline has surprised many fans. It’s been reported that he failed for smoking marijuana, so after his 5 game relaxation break, let’s hope he comes back ready to play ball.
[via All Headline News]
Why Not Drug Test Infants?
August 2nd, 2006 by Alex
The problem is that these liberties are slowly eroding. This is another thing I don’t have to point out. Pick up a newspaper or magazine, read the news online, or talk to some current students. Random drug tests, un-announced searches, and other supposedly protective measures are being taken more and more frequently by schools. The latest, and most troubling, doesn’t come from America but its ally overseas – England.
A British school has launched a pilot program where students as young as 11 are subjected to random drug tests – a project that has generated interest in Washington and fed a civil liberties debate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Eleven years old? Seriously? Well, at least this is only hapenning in England…
The White House drug czar says similar tests aren’t far off in the United States. “This (drug testing) is a public health measure,” Walters told The Associated Press.
Guess not. Will a line ever be drawn to regulate how young we can start testing children for drugs? Why not test infants? We can catch them when they’re young, before the pressures of 6th grade really get to the next generation.
What public and school officials don’t realize, is that bringing up this drug testing issue earlier and earlier for students puts the idea of drugs in their mind. They will become curious and want to see what all the big fucking deal is about. What are these drugs? Are they really as bad as people say they are? Maybe I’ll try for myself and find out…
As an adult, you should be able to make your own decisions about what you do and do not put in your body. As a child, you should be educated and protected by competent parents. It should be as simple as that. Anything beyond this scope, besides the obvious signs of intoxication while at school, are overstepping the boundaries of a government to police its own population.
I think it’s time to start manufacturing tFS pre-natal drug test kits…
