Pubdate: Sun, 22 Jun 2008
Source: Albany Democrat-Herald (OR)
Copyright: 2008 Lee Enterprises
Contact: http://www.mvonline.com/support/contact/dhletter.html
Website: http://www.democratherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/7
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n588/a04.html
Author: Mike Mullins

MAKE POT A REGULAR PRESCRIPTION

The real answer to this issue is to reschedule medical marijuana so
that a doctor can properly prescribe it. This would then allow for the
control and supply of MMJ rather than dealing in these grey areas.

As for the employer, the current marijuana testing methods need to be
reviewed. Current testing can show traces of the drug for up to six
months after exposure. The effect of the drug only lasts for 1 to 4
hours depending on strength and dosage. In short there is no current
test used generally by private employers that can detect if a person
is "under the influence" of marijuana. This should be a primary
concern that is addressed by the private business sector and most
certainly those big testing companies that make all the money from
them (but have little interest in this area of development).

Perhaps the private sector can adopt what our military has learned
about the value of "impairment testing" over a simple chemical
analysis of the last six months of life to quantify if a person is
under the influence of marijuana or in fact "impaired."

MIKE MULLINS

Disability Access Consultants

Happy Valley
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath