Tere’s another dilemma facing our industry
and our country: the proliferation of legalized marijuana at the state level. Eight states and the District of Columbia have adopted provisions in the law for recreational use of small amounts of marijuana to be removed from any criminal or civil sanctions. Te federal marijuana laws remain intact, but until now have not been enforced because of the previous Administration’s position. Employers and employees have the right to a safe workplace. Using marijuana is not conducive or consistent with a safe workplace. Private employers will, in my opinion, continue to be able to maintain drug-testing programs, including marijuana, to ensure a safe work environment. Tere will, however, be efforts by the marijuana lobby to restrict such testing for marijuana in states that have legalized marijuana use. Tis association and employers served by DATIA need to take a proactive stance with their state and federal legislators on this issue. Te science and the consequences of legalized
marijuana in Colorado are clear. Te Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking
Area (HIDTA) has published extensive reports on the consequences of marijuana use in that state, including traffic fatalities, hospitalizations, emergency room admissions, crime rates (which have increased), teenage drug use, and other relevant information. Te next several years will be critical in our nation’s efforts to stem drug abuse. Tis needs to be a non-partisan global issue. We will need the help of our neighbors in Mexico and help from China. Te President and Congress must hear from employers and families that the level of drug use and abuse is unacceptable. Drug testing still remains a valuable tool for
law enforcement, employers, and treatment providers to reduce drug abuse in this country. ❚
Peter B. Bensinger is Senior Consultant at Morneau Shepell, a professional services company that provides a wide range of consultation, training, and employee assistance program
services promoting employee health, safety, and wellness.
Mr. Bensinger served as the Administrator of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration under Presidents Ford, Carter and Reagan and was responsible for criminal investigations of illegal drugs, training for federal, state and local law enforcement, and regulation of the legal manufacture of controlled substances for legitimate medical use.
Mr. Bensinger has served as Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, President of the Association of State Correctional Administrators, Chairman of the Illinois Youth Commission, Executive Director of the Chicago Crime Commission, and as a principal delegate to Interpol for the United States. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the U.S. Coast Guard and two honorary degrees.
Mr. Bensinger is a nationally recognized expert on the issues of health and safety in the workplace and has appeared on Face the Nation, Meet the Press, Good Morning America, Oprah Winfrey, and The O’Reilly Factor.
Superior Controls for Accurate Results
Detectabuse Liquid Toxicology Controls
Detectabuse controls are
formulated to work with all known drug-screening devices.
We also offer a complete line of controls for immunoassay and confirmation testing.
Contact us at: Phone 1-800-223-4835
Support@biochemicaldiagnostics.com www.biochemicaldiagnostics.com
8
datia focus
spring 2018
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