Title:
Louisiana House approves plan to test aid recipients’ urine
Message:
We recently informed you about a bill that would require random drug testing of aid recipients in Louisiana. That bill passed the House yesterday in a 65-26 vote and will now move to the Senate.
Sponsored by Rep. Sherman Mack (R-95), HB 380 would require random drug testing of at least 20% of recipients of cash assistance in the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program. The bill would not require testing of government contractors, executives of corporations who receive multimillion-dollar tax abatements, or other recipients of taxpayer dollars who aren’t poor.
It’s easy to understand why taxpayers would not want aid money to be spent on marijuana. However, there is nothing currently stopping aid recipients from spending their checks on alcohol, cigarettes, and other non-essential items. Since marijuana metabolites remain in a person’s system for up to a month or more, this policy may simply steer those who would choose to use marijuana into using alcohol or other more dangerous drugs.
Besides, based on this report from Florida, where only 2% of recipients tested positive, it is far from clear that such programs actually save states money.
Please ask your legislators to oppose this wasteful, discriminatory legislation.
