Drug Testing Proposal Update
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Updated: 9:24 PM Mar 12, 2009
Drug Testing Proposal Update
Another group is throwing its support behind a bill that would require welfare recipients to be drug tested.
Posted: 8:53 PM Mar 12, 2009
Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Another group is throwing its support behind a bill that would require welfare recipients to be drug tested.

The Farm Bureau endorsed the bill Thursday afternoon at the capitol.

Delegate Craig Blair (R-Berkeley) introduced the legislation Wednesday.

If the bill passes, it would require all welfare recipients to be drug tested before they receive their benefits.

Anyone who tests positive has two months to get clean before he or she is cut off from the assistance.

The Farm Bureau says it has a very big stake in this issue.

"While we certainly want to help those who are down and out or don't have a job, we don't think we should be subsidizing drug use, so our members put it in our books," the West Virginia Farm Bureau’s Joan Harmon said.

The bill is now in the House Judiciary Committee. It faces skepticism over cost and constitutional issues, especially among Democrats.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Rev Mike on May 7, 2009 at 11:03 AM

L, I understand your frustration, but the problem is, the drug testing is going to label all the potheads, but prescription drug abusers will go undetected because they don't test for those drugs that are prescribed by doctors. Cocaine is out of the system fast, so is heroin. Sure they'll catch a few meth heads, but that just means those meth head's babies wont eat...and the medical marijuana users would be in jeopardy of losing their help because stupid racist laws still keep marijuana illegal. Drug testing is meant to hurt minorities and welfare drug testing means children will starve or become burdens of the state, Wake Up America
Posted by: Rev Mike on May 6, 2009 at 07:55 PM

What is going to happen is you will see people arrested for drug use because they were tested for welfare, completely circumventing the 5th amendment right against self incrimination. Wake Up America! You are losing your rights in the name of fighting an epidemic of drug abuse that the government does not really want to end! There would be too much unemployment caused by the drug war being won!
Posted by: Jason on Apr 12, 2009 at 01:31 PM

What people fail to relize the parents are the ones using,the children are the ones that benefit from the food stamps and medical cards the parents aren't going to stop using drugs they will find another way to get them but the children will be the ones to suffer in the long run I don't agree with people abusing the system but we need to think this through it may be a quick fix but just like anything else they will find away around it. and what's next drug test before you can open a bank acct,or register your child in school it's just another way for the government to take control and to all the people who think this is OK put yourself in the shoes of the welfare recepiant not all are drug pusher or users so don't bad mouth people who need help just because you don't,there are alot of honest people out here that do need it
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