Rep. Melvin Henley's pre-filed bill stripping welfare benefits from drug abusers has received one serious objection that weighs particularly heavily now that everyone is talking about budget deficits: cost of drug tests.
Rep. Ted Edmonds may have an answer. House Bill 78, pre-filed Friday, would require health insurers to cover drug tests ordered under such circumstances.
I'm generally not a big fan of health insurance mandates, but Henley's bill requires welfare recipients authorities have reason to believe are abusing drugs to either take a drug test or lose their benefits.
I'm guessing most drug abusers would not bother to go through the exercise of taking a drug test so the costs would be very, very small.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Now this could get interesting
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Drug tests are scams. Drug tests don't pick up most drugs. The substance most likely to be picked up would be THC metabolites. That's because they can remain in the body for 30 days. THC is the cannabinoid most associated with the non-drug marijuana.
Metabolites don't affect performance in any way. Besides, if a person takes ibuprofen or drinks black coffee, the body's self-produced endocannabinoids can result in THC metabolites.
Likewise, using hemp creams, lotions, salves, balms, shampoos, conditioners, soaps and fragrances can result in a positive THC test.
Re. Henley's bill is just a bogus scam to cut welfare benefits.
Requiring health insurance providers to pay for such bogus tests is a misuse of healthcare dollars.
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