MJane

Hey, you guys, I'm just wondering what the general consensus on this is:
I'm sure everyone here is against employment drug screens, but do you think that drug testing in the military should be mandatory, or do you think that the military should revoke their testing procedures and not make an issue out of it?!
Would you consider weed a hindrance to military discipline/performance, or do you think that military members have as much a right to smoke as us (aside from the fact that it's illegal, of course).
As a former military member myself, I see nothing wrong with getting rid of random drug tests. On the ship I was on, quite a few sailors smoked, and no one's performance was affected at all; on the contrary, I think it boosted the morale of the people who smoked, especially when we were out to sea. I know that in Vietnam, many of the soldiers/sailors smoked, and their commanders didn't give a crap. Who knows why, but I can imagine that it's because the weed put elevated their dire mood, and probably kept them from going totally crazy.
Anyway, there are plenty of companies that don't drug test...I think the military should be treated like one of those companies, and not require drug tests just because it's a government entity.
If someone's MJ use jeopardizes the safety of others, or the mission-at-hand, that person should be disciplined MOST DEFINITELY, but I don't see anything wrong with responsible MJ use among military members.
Hell, with the kind of conditions they're forced to live in, they of all people deserve a bowl. Anyone who disagrees (or even agrees) with me, please voice your opinion.

FieldsOfGreen

Yes they need drug tests.
If your gonna defend me you better be 100%

Jenitals

I agree, they need tests, although perhaps penalising them for using marijuana is a little bit much. They need the tests to ensure they're not dabbling in allsorts of other drugs. I don't like the idea of a drugged up armed force going off fighting with big guns and jets they can't handle properly.

Niteshift

I'm for them.

Do you want a guy that just used certain drugs recently to be piloting a $70 million aircraft full of munitions over your house? Or that guy handling nuclear warheads?


I know what you're driving at with pot, and even though it's fairly benign, it's still illegal and so they can't allow them to use it even if the DoD bought into the reasoning.

Consider too that they also check for alcohol and, if you are under-age, they will discipline you for that too.

Likewise, at least for the Army, all tobacco products are prohibited while you're in training. Even in the later stages of training, you can get a "wet pass" (allowing you to consume alcohol if you are of legal age), but still can't consume tobacco products.

Lastly, the same folks that are slated to go into harms way to protect the country are not afforded the same protections under the Constitution. Military members do not have the same rights as everyone else. that may sound draconian to some, especially those who've never been in the military, but most veterans understand why it really is a necessary thing.

__________________
A burning desire for social justice is never a substitute for knowing what you're talking about. -Thomas Sowell

Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is muzzle flash.

anti147

Maybe I'm wrong here and everything, but, wasn't our gov giving military pilots "certain drugs" before going on long distant fights?

imported_LordIcer

Just because the goverment can do it doesn't mean you can get away with it . I think these types of tests should be manditory. These people are going into it in the first place knowing what will be expected of them. Taking bong rips before operating a .50 cal machine gun might sound fun, but studies show it has been proven to increase chance of friendly fire.

Niteshift

"Maybe I'm wrong here and everything, but, wasn't our gov giving military pilots "certain drugs" before going on long distant fights?"

Probably not what you're thinking. You can PM me the name if you want. The one I had in my mind when I made the statement was one that usually uses 3 letters, none of which are vowels

Jimmy Jim

Rush Limbaugh say the role of the military is to break things and kill people. Perhaps the importance of drug testing is to make sure that our military simply breaks the things of, and kills the right people.
Besides, if someone smokes a joint they might start some kind of psycho analysis of orders like: "But Sir, those people are unarmed".

MJane

Absolutely, you guys.....Here's the way I look at it:

In time of war, I think marijuana use SHOULD be prohibited, and severely...especially if that person is on the front lines, or out to sea...duties as simple as standing watch NEED a person's full, undivided, sober attention.
In time of peace, though, I don't think drug tests should be utilized. If a member is off-duty, and smokes, I don't think he/she should be punished (considering there is a test given and he/she pops positive); of course, if a person reports for duty blitzed, or is caught smoking while on duty, he/she should be repromanded, of course.
All I'm saying is that, since MJ is no more dangerous than alcohol, it's use should be dealt with in the same way. If a person gets drunk, and is off-duty, the military doesn't care, but of course if he reports for duty blitzed, that person gets severely repromanded. Since MJ is no more dangerous than alcohol, I think it's use should be treated in the same manner.
Let me ask you guys another question...If, by the grace of God, MJ WERE legalized, do you think a military member should have the right to smoke while off-duty, considering we are not at war?!

MJane

Actually, it's that way in ALL branches, not just the army. When I was in boot camp, a recruit and her CC were caught smoking cigs after lights-out. She was sent home, and he was demoted 2 ranks.
A little harsh, maybe, but it just shows how serious the military is about this stuff.