Florida passes new drug law.

Florida just passed a new drug law I say great for them. Every state should follow this model.

Quote :

(CNN) -- A controversial law requiring adults applying for welfare assistance to undergo drug screening has gone into effect in Florida.

Saying it is "unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction," Gov. Rick Scott signed the legislation in June.

"It's the right thing for taxpayers," Scott said after signing the measure. "It's the right thing for citizens of this state that need public assistance. We don't want to waste tax dollars. And also, we want to give people an incentive to not use drugs."

Under the law, which went into effect on Friday, the Florida Department of Children and Family Services will be required to conduct the drug tests on adults applying to the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

The aid recipients would be responsible for the cost of the screening, which they would recoup in their assistance if they qualify.

Those who fail the required drug testing may designate another individual to receive the benefits on behalf of their children.

Shortly after the bill was signed, five Democrats from the state's congressional delegation issued a joint statement attacking the legislation, one calling it "downright unconstitutional."

And the ACLU has filed suit against the state for requiring all state workers to take a drug test and is considering suing the state for drug-testing welfare applicants.

Controversy over the measure was heightened by Scott's past association with a company he co-founded that operates walk-in urgent care clinics in Florida and counts drug screening among the services it provides.

In April, Scott, who had transferred his ownership interest in Solantic Corp. to a trust in his wife's name, said the company would not contract for state business, according to local media reports. He subsequently sold his majority stake in the company, local media reported.

On May 18, the Florida Ethics Commission ruled that two conflict-of-interest complaints against Scott were legally insufficient to warrant investigation, and adopted an opinion that no "prohibited conflict of interest" existed.

Florida is not the first state to pass such legislation. Michigan passed a similar law that the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals found unconstitutional in 2003 since it violated the U.S. Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens against unreasonable search.

The court said the law would set a dangerous precedent by allowing the government to conduct drug searches for the safety of the public without prior suspicion.

Shortly after the bill was signed, five Democrats from the state's congressional delegation issued a joint statement attacking the legislation, one calling it "downright unconstitutional."


This is funny sense the whole entitlement system is unconstitutional.

ssvs04 wrote:

Shortly after the bill was signed, five Democrats from the state's congressional delegation issued a joint statement attacking the legislation, one calling it "downright unconstitutional."


This is funny sense the whole entitlement system is unconstitutional.

It is more of a privilege like driving nothing guarantees you get it. Follow the rules or else.

Pissedoffvulcan wrote:

ssvs04 wrote:

This is funny sense the whole entitlement system is unconstitutional.

It is more of a privilege like driving nothing guarantees you get it. Follow the rules or else.

Personally, I'm against drug laws. If people want to smoke, drink, or eat something weird, that's their business. Government has no place in such decisions, and the drug war has allowed government to invade our privacy, curtail our freedoms, and hurt/kill many innocent people.

As for driving being a privilege, it shouldn't be. Freedom to travel is a right, and I don't see why it suddenly becomes a privilege just because people are now using cars. We've allowed government to convert too many of our freedoms into mere privileges. It's gotten so bad that even a simple profession like cutting hair now requires a government "license!"

Skycastle wrote:

Pissedoffvulcan wrote:

ssvs04 wrote:

This is funny sense the whole entitlement system is unconstitutional.

It is more of a privilege like driving nothing guarantees you get it. Follow the rules or else.

Personally, I'm against drug laws. If people want to smoke, drink, or eat something weird, that's their business. Government has no place in such decisions, and the drug war has allowed government to invade our privacy, curtail our freedoms, and hurt/kill many innocent people.

As for driving being a privilege, it shouldn't be. Freedom to travel is a right, and I don't see why it suddenly becomes a privilege just because people are now using cars. We've allowed government to convert too many of our freedoms into mere privileges. It's gotten so bad that even a simple profession like cutting hair now requires a government "license!"

I agree with you. All drugs should be legal however I do not want welfare people spending my tax dollars on drugs booze when it is supposed to be used for food rent electric.

In a way, I agree with the stance that that the government has no business telling me I can't smoke weed, or whatever.

But I cannot support legalization or decriminalization of substances which will increase the already outrageous number of freeloaders that my tax dollars have to support.

I was going to get on my soapbox about this,but I'll just say that I agree with Annoyed: I can't support legalizing drugs that will increase the burden on our society.
And don't give me that crap about the junkies will just have to get by on their own, because you know that ain't happening.

Annoyed wrote:

In a way, I agree with the stance that that the government has no business telling me I can't smoke weed, or whatever.

But I cannot support legalization or decriminalization of substances which will increase the already outrageous number of freeloaders that my tax dollars have to support.

The problem isn't drugs, it's socialism. Your tax dollars shouldn't support anyone. Welfare, and government giveaway-your-money programs are all Unconstitutional. That's the battle we should be fighting.

By the way, the federal government spends about $15 billion annually fighting the drug war, and the state and local governments around $25 billion, for a total of $40 billion/yr. So ending this useless war would save our tax dollars, and eliminate the drug gangs and their turf wars.

Believe it or not, drug dealers support the War on Drugs - without it they couldn't make a profit.

Source: drugsense.org/cms/wodclock

Skycastle wrote:

Annoyed wrote:

In a way, I agree with the stance that that the government has no business telling me I can't smoke weed, or whatever.

But I cannot support legalization or decriminalization of substances which will increase the already outrageous number of freeloaders that my tax dollars have to support.

The problem isn't drugs, it's socialism. Your tax dollars shouldn't support anyone. Welfare, and government giveaway-your-money programs are all Unconstitutional. That's the battle we should be fighting.

By the way, the federal government spends about $15 billion annually fighting the drug war, and if we include the states it's many billions more. So ending this useless war would save our tax dollars, and eliminate the drug gangs and their turf wars. Believe it or not, drug dealers support the War on Drugs - without it they couldn't make a profit.

Source: drugsense.org/cms/wodclock

I think however they might have a point. How many people would claim SS benefits because they were no longer able to work because of drugs?

Pissedoffvulcan wrote:

I think however they might have a point. How many people would claim SS benefits because they were no longer able to work because of drugs?

Well, SS is Unconstitutional and should be abolished.

In any case, I think that would be less of a cost than the $40 billion annual cost of the war, combined with the damage and murders done by the drug cartels and gangs. Most of the violence and murders in Mexico are due to the drug cartels fighting the government, and that spills over into our nation as well along the border.

We must also take into account that the drug war has FAILED! Users still apply for SS and so take our tax dollars even today. And then there's the tremendous cost of imprisoning all the drug offenders, and that must be in the billions as well. So ending this insane war would benefit everyone, except the drug dealers.

End the drug war, and that all ends.