He Said What? Marijuana Testing Stays In House Bill

[bobandtorey]

May 9, 2014

LANSING- Drug policy reform advocates were expecting a provision allowing roadside saliva testing for marijuana to be removed from Michigan House Bill 5385 on Thursday May 8. Upon arrival at the Judiciary Committee hearing they were told that the program was back in the bill- and that a prominent Representative backed out of his promise to fight against the testing program.

HB 5385 is part of a three-bill package submitted by Rep. Dan Louwers, R- St. Clair. “The purpose and intent of these bills is to improve communications between law enforcement agencies when dealing with drugged drivers and getting repeat offenders off the streets,” Rep. Lauwers reminded Committee members. A provision authorizing roadside saliva testing through the use of oral swabs and an in-car computer system was added to the bill after it was drafted.  

The oral swab testing is not standardized, not approved for federal use in employment screening or law enforcement purposes, and is not approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration. “There’s a lot of things you can test for in saliva, but testing for marijuana is unproven,” Rep. Michael Callton, R-Nashville told the Detroit Free Press in an interview published the morning of the hearing, May 8. 

Rep. Callton, a chiropractor, questioned the oral swab testing procedure’s “limited accuracy,” and added, “And there’s the issue of, ‘I can have medical marijuana a month ago but I’ll still have traces of it in my body, so I would be considered intoxicated’ by the tests.” The bill’s sponsor, co-sponsors and Committee members expressed concern over these issues and others raised by medical marijuana advocates during the first HB 5385 hearing on April 17.

In the interview the Free Press reported that Rep. Callton, a co-sponsor of the bill, “said he planned to introduce an amendment removing the use of saliva testing at a House Judiciary Committee hearing today.”

Callton did not show up at the hearing and that amendment was never submitted. In its place, an amendment was offered to allow the oral swab testing to go forward in an experimental program incorporating up to five counties for at least three years. Bill Zaagman, lobbyist for the Cannabis Stakeholders Group (CSG), informed select cannabis community members about the return of the roadside oral testing program before the Committee hearing began- an inexplicable reversal of a decision made in a negotiation that was reportedly already resolved.

The bombshell backwards step was not well-received by the members of the Committee, nor by those medical marijuana advocates in attendance. The questions raised by the surprising proposal, and some mismatched language between bill and amendment, created so many concerns about the scheme that Committee Chairman Kevin Cotter, R- Mt. Pleasant, delayed a final vote on the bill for a week so additional adjustments could be made.

CSG delivered a similarly unexpected and unwelcome blow to the medical marijuana community during the first HB 5385 hearing when the Group’s leader, Ben Horner, offered up to legislators a 5 nanogram/8 nanogram THC driving limit for non-patients and medical marijuana cardholders, respectively. The unprompted move brought broad criticism to CSG and Horner. Zaagman and Rep. Callton seem to have followed the same pattern of ambush politics with the surprise appearance of the May 8 amendment.

Called on to testify about the bill by Chairman Cotter were Rep. Lauwers, members of various police agencies in support of the bill, and Public Relations Director for Americans for Safe Access- Michigan, Rick Thompson, in opposition. Chairman Cotter cited time constraints in deciding to allow only one person to speak against the roadside saliva testing bill, although Robin Schneider of the National Patients Rights Association, Thetford Township Trustee Eric Gunnels and well-known attorney Mike Nichols of the Nichols Law Firm were also prepared to address the Committee. 

Other notable incidents from the hearing include the citation of the CSG plan’s 5 nanogram THC driving limit by the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan and a substitute for HB 5385 that would create a new two-point driving record penalty for refusing a roadside agility test; currently, citizens can refuse these subjectively evaluated, physical manipulation tests on the roadside without penalty.

 

http://thecompassionchronicles.com/2014/05/09/he-said-what-marijuana-testing-stays-in-house-bill/

[+Malamute]

Callton once again proving he is a hack.

 

Ben Horner and CSG are like children playing with our lives.  No clue WTH they are talking about and careless to think even one or two steps ahead.

[flower pharm]

politicans doin what they do best.

[flower pharm]

so now they want a 3yr test in 5 counties,that seems like bull, now  which county wants all this extra money,jump on the train.great

[motorcitymeds]

These politicians are so FUXIN disgusting I want to pi ss on every single one of their desks next time I get shiiyat face drunk...I will call an UBER cab and roll up to Lansing and whip it out and pi ss on them all.

 

 

HOW THE FUX can you pass some BS that even the FEDERAL Government recognizes as flawed. . ...?  LET INCOMPETANCE RUN RAMPANT AND YOU GET CHIMPS RUNNIN THE SHOW. 

 

 

 

THIS IS JUST A STRAIGHT UP MONEY GRAB.  MORE BS.  DUI'S MONEY MUST BE DOWN FOR THESE STOOGES TO REDUCE THEMSELVES TO PUTTING PEOPLES LIVES ON THE LINE.  ... ..WITH UNPROVEN TACTICS.

 

 

WTF....

 

ALL OF THEM SHOULD BE FIRED.   EVERY LAST FUXIN ONE OF THEM...

Edited May 10, 2014 by motorcitymeds