Korean Job Discussion Forums

sirius black · Joined: 04 Jun 2010

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle-old/282/michiganruling.shtml
(Michigan) state started a pilot drug testing project under the law, only 21 of 268 people tested positive -- and 18 of those were for marijuana.

268 people may not be a large enough sampling to extrapolate but if the numbers hold true then its what, about 8% using some sort of illegal drug and 6/7 of those smoked pot and we don't know how many of those actually bought it.
These numbers compare similarly to America in general. Using 2003 numbers and assuming drug use has stayed current.

http://citizenjoe.org/node/53

% of Americans who have used illegal drugs:
In the past month: 8.2% (2003) SAMHSA

We may in fact find that all Florida will find out is that its welfare recipients use illegal drugs the same as America at large.

The average welfare recipient is a single mother, it holds true for Florida. I would suggest the costs would increase. Furthermore, a person applying for aid who smokes pot would do what everyone else does who has to pass a drug test but uses. Simply stop using. Of course the cost benefit analysis working against the state doesn't mean its a bad law obviously. Just interesting to point out.

Furthermore I would suggest that in Florida specifically the likelihood of those turning up positive would be diminished because a large portion of their welfare families are immigrants.

http://immigrationlawyersnow.org/study-shows-largest-population-of-welfare-recipients-are-immigrants
Fifty seven percent of households in which immigrants live are collecting at least one welfare check. This number refers to both legal and illegal aliens living in the United States. The report found that the majority of people on welfare are not even residents or citizens of the country. Only 39 percent of Americans are receiving welfare compared to the totals for immigrants.

and Florida specifcally

Florida itself is home to over 1 million immigrants and the state spends an estimated $5.5 billion providing aid to undocumented aliens every year

The cost of the test for those that pass against the number of Florida welfare recipients (about 56,00 in 2009: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article1023722.ece
More than 56,700 families received state welfare aid in July (2009)

and we can see the cost going up.

Still waiting on the answer of students being tested as well as any other persons who receive aid from the state in any manner or form. A case can be argued that welfare recipients and state workers are unfairly targeted when other groups such as students meet the same criteria,that being they also receive monies from the state.

geldedgoat · Joined: 05 Mar 2009

I see this going one of two ways: either the government has a constitutionally apportioned duty to provide aid to these people, meaning those qualifying for assistance have a right to it, or it doesn't. If the government does, then presuming guilt and demanding a drug test without probable cause is an obvious violation of the fourth amendment. If, however, the government does not have some responsibility to help, then TANF shouldn't even exist in the first place. Either way, these drug tests shouldn't be happening.

And really, if welfare monies being spent on drugs is such a problem, there are other, more constitutionally palatable ways to ensure it is used on intended necessities, food stamp credit cards that require an accompanying photo ID being one of many.