Micheal Hudson, a multi-media specialist for the city of Riviera Beach, Fla., was ordered by Human Resources Director Doretha Perry to take a reasonable suspicion drug test. When Hudson later revoked the city's access to the results of his hair sample drug test, he was fired for refusal to take the test. Hudson then filed a lawsuit in Federal Court alleging that Perry violated his rights under the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by ordering him to submit to the drug tests or risk termination because of alleged bad blood between Hudson and Perry's son, Troy, who also worked for the city. Hudson's direct supervisor and his supervisor did not request that Hudson be tested or suspect Hudson of drug use. [continues 566 words]
Speaker Mike Hubbard Does Not Expect House Version To Go Far In the wake of President Barack Obama's statement that marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol, the Alabama State Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would give justifiable defense for the use of a marijuana- derivative for medicinal purposes Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. Senate Bill 174, named Carly's Law after an Inverness girl diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, would provide a defense for the use of cannabidiol (CBD) oil to provide relief for debilitating medical conditions, like violent seizures and severe nausea. The bill stipulates the CBD user must be diagnosed by a physician, and that the drug must be likely to provide therapeutic or palliative relief. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Paul Sanford, R-Madison. [continues 462 words]
Why are so many states interested in medical marijuana? As the Alabama Medical Marijuana Coalition (AMMJC) says: "Marijuana is medicine, and it always has been." As 16 states have initiated legislation, there is a surge of interest in medicinal marijuana and the science of the endocannabinoid system. Alabamians are joining the coalition to support a medical marijuana bill that is sponsored by Rep. K.L. Brown, R-Jacksonville, and could pass in 2012. The Alabama Medical Marijuana Patients Rights Act is comprehensive legislation that would allow medical use of marijuana by verified patients. [continues 105 words]
A medical marijuana bill known as the Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act For Alabama will be introduced in the 2011 session of the Alabama legislature. I've lived over half of my 77-plus years in chronic and debilitating pain and used many prescription drugs to try to alleviate my pain which has grown increasingly worse over the past few years. None of them helped and several of them hurt me. I'm a law abiding citizen, so I've never used marijuana in any form because it's illegal in Alabama to use it even if my doctor might recommend using it, although I've read numerous studies stating that marijuana might provide relief from my pain. As the law stands now, no doctor in Alabama would prescribe marijuana for pain relief lest they and their patient become criminals. [continues 55 words]
Officers Ask Store Owners To Stop Selling Glass-Pipe Packaging The Lee County Sheriff's Office is asking local shop owners to stop selling novelty items whose glass-pipe packaging is considered drug paraphernalia. The pipes often house plastic flowers and usually can be found at gas stations and other stores, according to Capt. Van Jackson of the Lee County Sheriff's Office Investigative Division. Based on phone interviews with stores in the area, the availability of the novelties varies at local stores - some stores sell the pipes, some have already stopped selling pipes and some have never carried them. [continues 582 words]
By passing the voluntary drug-testing policy, the Auburn City Board of Education is sending a clear message about the use of drugs and alcohol in grades 6 to 12. Terry Jenkins, superintendent of Auburn City Schools, said the message should be clear. "We are saying to them (parents) very clearly that we are going to put in place procedures so that we try to keep drugs, alcohol and those kinds of things away from our campus as much as we possibly can. [continues 234 words]
Auburn Parents Voice Their Concerns A few Auburn school board members as well as a handful of concerned parents voiced their opinion at a public forum Thursday about a possible voluntary drug testing for Auburn students in grades six through 12. In spring 2003, data was reported from a survey conducted using sixth-through 12th-grade students, which showed 202 students reported smoking marijuana or using other drugs. In spring 2003, Auburn, Opelika and Lee County schools received a grant for $750,000 which will be split between the three school systems and divided into three years for possible voluntary drug testing. Auburn schools superintendent Terry Jenkins said he has received a significant number of e-mails, phone calls and face-to-face conversations from parents and students concerned about the drug testing issue. "I have heard very strong feelings on both sides of the issue," he said. It is not legal to require drug testing for all students, Jenkins said, adding that, if approved by school board members, parents could have the option of volunteering their children to be tested. [continues 451 words]
The sometimes controversial topic of testing students in grades seven through 12 for drugs and alcohol was placed on the table for consideration for 60 days by the Auburn City Schools Board of Education at its meeting Tuesday. The policy would require testing all student-athletes, students in extracurricular activities or students who park on school grounds. If the policy is put in place, students whose parents do not consent to the testing, will be banned from extracurricular activities or driving a car onto campus. [continues 577 words]
A drug technician with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Auburn has been arrested and charged with theft and possession of a controlled substance in connection with missing evidence. Department Director Taylor Noggle said Charlie J. Holcomb had been with the Auburn division for about a year when his job performance began declining. His supervisor had a discussion with him about it, and suggested he check into a rehabilitation program, Noggle said. He had been in the program about two weeks when he requested an interview with me for a pre-dismissal hearing. He is now dismissed. [continues 525 words]
