Arizona Medical-marijuana Card Database Used Frequently By Cops And Employers

[Michael Komorn]

Arizona Medical-Marijuana Card Database Used Frequently by Cops and Employers

 

 

 

http://blogs.phoenix...ijuana_card.php

 

By Ray SternThu., Aug. 16 2012 at 3:54 PM

 

Categories: Medical Weed

See also: Blunt Justice

See also: Marijuana is Real Medicine for a Long List of Ills

 

A database of everyone who has an Arizona medical-marijuana card is being well-used by employers and law enforcement officials, a report of database users shows.

 

The 2010 Arizona Medical Marijuana Act requires the state Department of Health Services to set up and maintain the computer list (see below) of registered patients and caregivers. Its primary use is to ensure that patients don't get arrested if caught with pot by police.

 

As of last week, 2,646 access accounts have been created for people to check on the validity of medical-marijuana cards. Police departments, sheriff's offices, and even federal outfits like the Border Patrol and ATF are among the public safety shops that have set up accounts. The DEA only has one account that it hasn't yet used.

 

 

No "fishing" is allowed. The database, which now contains info on about 40,000 patients and caregivers, can't be searched by inputting names or addresses. Only a registration card number can be submitted for verification.

 

In other words, cops can't sign up for access to the database, then randomly check to see if Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery or anyone else is a patient. But if Montgomery gets stopped with a couple ounces of Blackberry Kush and provides a card number, police can then verify whether or not he's okay under state law to possess marijuana.

 

It's up to each police agency whether to obtain access privileges for individual officers, or obtain just a few access accounts that can then be used by supervisors or dispatchers, who would get the card numbers relayed to them by officers on the street. Most agencies just have a few accounts, but some have a lot more. Of the 2,646 total accounts, 851 are from a single police agency -- Phoenix police.

 

The report by DHS doesn't list all of the times that the database has been accessed by anyone, just the date of the latest access. Many police agency accounts were accessed in the last few days, which suggests they are encountering patients frequently and checked on the validity of their cards.

 

Some police agencies -- like the Cottonwood Police Department and the DEA -- have set up accounts, but have never actually checked anyone's registration card.

 

Probation departments, especially the one in Maricopa, are regular users of the database, though we're not sure why. Perhaps people on probation are being caught using marijuana by their probation officer, but then presenting a medical-marijuana card to the officer. We left a message with Michael Cimino to ask him about this, but he hasn't called back yet.

 

Last year, the Arizona Legislature expanded the scope of the system, allowing employers to also get access to the database.

 

The DHS list of database account holders shows the names of numerous employers, both public and private. Arizona Game and Fish, Go Daddy, Swift Transportation and PetSmart are among the account holders.

 

An employer would typically use the database in conjunction with a drug-testing program. If an employee fails a drug test, or perhaps if the employee simply knows a drug test is about to be administered, he or she might present a medical-marijuana card for verification. The employer then logs in to the DHS database to validate the card number.

 

Several medical-marijuana-related businesses, like Arizona MMJ Community Clinics, have accounts. Presumably, those businesses would want to ensure a prospective employee has patient or caregiver status.

 

The list also contains many drug-testing businesses. Chad Haas, spokesman for Complete Testing Solutions, says his company routinely validates medical-marijuana cards for employees who have been ordered to take a drug test by their employer. Haas says that, in his experience, employers "are pretty lenient" about their card-holding employees unless the patient has a job that could involve danger to others, such as a bus driver.

 

We're just wondering how long before the state's database gets hacked.

[PurplePeopleEaterz]

Hey guys, first time poster btw

love reading this posts, and education by the well informed and accomplished individuals. My quick question after reading that article is, Should the new bills pass, In particular(4834) will LEO and others with access have a similar standard or process, to access? WIll they need the card, before they can access?

 

Doesnt seem all that bad, in my personal opinion if they have strict standards to access the registry, whomever has access should be identified as well. Toward the end, about the potential for hacking, employer use, etc... is very concerning. FWIW, im NOT in favor of 4834, just trying to make sense of the supposed benefit.

 

Thanks for all you hard work Mr. Korman and Zap,

[Murph]

Lovely example why WE IN MICHIGAN cannot allow access to the Registry card database ---

 

"...Last year, the Arizona Legislature expanded the scope of the system, allowing employers to also get access to the database...."

 

Ariz. is a good example, so as said, print it out, include it with your contact to Senators. We cannot allow medical treatment decisions into the public

 

We cannot let any of these Bills in the Michigan SENATE to pass. Oppose all bills in the Michigan Senate !

 

Peace,

 

Murph

Edited August 17, 2012 by Murph

[Michael Komorn]

4834 is really offensive, and became worse when Jones got his hands on it. The Arizona story shows the unusual interest and the high number of searches in that data base. More importantly it also reflects that those searches were tracked, numbered, and could be directly related to or connected to the person who ran the search. Meaning there is some accountability, and some mechanism in place that would provide evidence if LEO or someone on the overly expanded list should do a search for a reason that that the bill would not allow. The Michigan Law Enforcement Information Network (Lien) has something like that exist, and requires someone to sign, in order to do a search. The Arizona article shows that if there is a list and people have access to it, they will in fact use it; we only know this because Arizona had the foresight to tracks it. 4834 doesn’t contemplate this, and the Arizona story provides solid evidence to encourage a “no” vote of your senator or representative.

[Hayduke]

Lovely example why WE IN MICHIGAN cannot allow access to the Registry card database ---

 

"...Last year, the Arizona Legislature expanded the scope of the system, allowing employers to also get access to the database...."

 

Ariz. is a good example, so as said, print it out, include it with your contact to Senators. We cannot allow medical treatment decisions into the public

 

We cannot let any of these Bills in the Michigan SENATE to pass. Oppose all bills in the Michigan Senate !

 

Peace,

 

Murph

 

I agree with all comments, but would suggest not telling Senators about AZ giving employers access... why give 'em idea's? That tack may backfire, sadly....