Pubdate: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 Source: Florida Today (Melbourne, FL) Copyright: 2009 Florida Today Contact: http://www.floridatoday.com/content/forms/services/letters.shtml Website: http://www.floridatoday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/532 Author: James Stubbins TIME TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA Once again, we have proof that the only thing pre-employment drug testing does is deny employment to hemp product users. The recent discovery of cocaine in the space shuttle's hanger at Kennedy Space Center shows that users of truly dangerous drugs have no trouble finding jobs. You can freebase cocaine all night Thursday, put yourself to sleep with a big shot of heroin Friday and pass a urine test Monday. Take some cannabis to relieve the never-ending pain from nerve surgery on your elbow at Christmastime, though, and you cannot pass the test until March. If you need marijuana for digestive problems, it can last even longer. The digestive system slows down permanently after a few years of chemotherapy. Twelve to 16 weeks is a common retention time. We need to legalize medical marijuana and eliminate the Nixon-era unconstitutionally invasive drug-free workplace laws. Real drug abusers cannot bring themselves to leave their dope at home. Drug-sniffing dogs at the gates to secure government facilities would be more effective. James Stubbins Melbourne - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake