Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Drug Test Nation A disturbing look at the immediate future of the privacy of our bodily fluids in Paul Armentano's column at Reason. The purpose of this symposium -- and the intent of the bodily fluid snoopers in attendance -- was to call for an unprecedented, government-mandated expansion of both drug testing and the application of new drug screening technology -- and not just for those within the workplace. And the pee police may be close to getting their wish.... According to its website, DATIA is "a 1,200-member national trade association representing the full spectrum of alcohol and drug testing service agents, including laboratories, collection sites, ... and [drug] testing device manufacturers." In layman's terms, it's the lobbying arm for the drug testing industry. I've known for years that the drug testing industry was wielding political pressure -- now they're being up front abou the lobbying. This is an industry that will push until they are drug testing every employee, and every student, and every driver that's stopped on the highway. And right now, the government (through the ONDCP) is facilitating their profits. 7:10:20 PM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []

Health and Human Services delays... again. The expected response to the petition by Americans for Safe Access has come... (thanks to atg in comments) RE: Request for Correction of Infomlation Submitted by HHS Regarding the Medical Use of Marijuana Dear Mr. Elford: Your October 4, 2004, request for correction of information disseminated by the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the medical use of marijuana is still under review. While the goal of the Food and Drug Administration is to respond within 60 days to such requests, we are unable to do so in this case. We anticipate that a response will be forwarded to you by April 1, 2005. You can see all of HHS's responses to Data Quality Act petitions here. Some of them have stretched on over a year. The whole 60 days rule seems to have more limited teeth than I first thought, since HHS can simply award itself multiple extensions. However, they still have to respond to political pressure, and eventually they'll have to answer. At which point, an appeal can be made, etc., etc. In the meantime, the DEA continues to block re-scheduling efforts and the FDA continues to block research. An entire bureaucracy just to obstruct, divert, and deny the truth. 6:37:02 PM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []

Barthwell challenged, runs away In the State Journal-Register The conflict reached a head this week, when Rep. Larry McKeon, D-Chicago, challenged Dr. Andrea Barthwell to a public debate about medical marijuana. Barthwell declined the challenge. ... McKeon charged that Barthwell's seminars appear to be a smear campaign against his proposal. The lawmaker - who is living with AIDS - said House Bill 407 attempts to improve the quality of life for terminally ill patients struggling with the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy and other treatments. Drug warriors are afraid of being in the same room with someone who has the facts. 9:16:08 AM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []