Free 420 Drug Tests: Brilliant or Buzzkill?

Wonderful way for parents to know what their children are doing without having to take them in for an actual drug test.

It shouldn't be paid for by the government, though.

1. I believe that marijuana should be decriminalized. 2. Children should not use drugs. 3. At home drug tests should not be paid for by taxdollars.

If a parent thinks their child might be smoking pot or doing anything illegal or disapproved of, the first thing parents need to do is not only talk to their child, but listen to what their child has to say.

Do you know why parents are responsible for their MINOR children under the age of 18? Because the courts, Dr's, teachers ...and many more have determined that their child brain isn't well developed enough to allow them to do things that ADULTS can do. Sure, listen to what the child has to say, but remember, legally, you are responsible for that child's actions 'till they are 18.

Ummm yeah. I was saying the first thing is to actually talk to your children. Having a wonderful open relationship with your child can help them in so many ways. If your child is comfortable talking to you it is less likely that they would keep secrets from you. Such as if they are being bullied, wondering about sex, having difficulty in school, are feeling depressed, or a whole host of other problems. While I do not encourage the "best friend" approach to parenting, you're their parent, not their peer, I wish more parents would instill not only a sense of respect but show their child that no matter what they do, they will still be loved and cared for.

*shakes head*
People should be more concerned about the drugs that, you know, will actually kill you.

That means a lot, doesn't it? Drop the F Bomb every chance you get, it will really make you seem smart beyond your years....

yeah i dont really care , i know cursing doesnt make you sound smart or anything .

Waste of taxpayer money. There should be a middle answer box, though, like "bogus" or "boring" or something. I do think parents need to be in touch with their kids, hopefully through being loving & supportive, not gastapo & unloving. Hopefully, then, the suicide rate will go down, which is way more important.

You don't need drug tests to know if your kid is getting high.
The parents who can't tell that their kids are stoners are probably too naive to ever think their kids would be into that, and wouldn't see the need to test their kids.
Waste of money.

The 420 Waldos, 4:20, and 4/20 is primarily a term used in North America and refers to the consumption of cannabis and, by extension, a way to identify oneself with cannabis subculture. Observances based on the number include the time (4:20 pm) as well as the date (April 20).
The earliest use of the term began among a group of teenagers in San Rafael, California in 1971. Calling themselves the Waldos, because "their chosen hang-out spot to smoke pot was a wall outside the school.
My own high school had a simmular place under a huge tree, we refered to the students who went there to smoke pot as "The Tree People", lol.
Most kids that i knew back in the day that smoked pot wouldn't give a damn if their parents tested them or not, because they would still smoke pot reguardles, and today most of them are dead from one thing or another, or in jail for going into selling pot and other drugs. And some i see are retired janitors, and still smoking pot, but they call it 'Medical Marijuana', lol!!!!

well stated!

This is a difficult one to vote on. I think it's obvious that we aren't winning the war on drugs, so legalize them, tax them federally and locally like we do tobacco products and alcohol; same with distribution, depending on state regulations; state DUI rules would also apply to drugs. Like home brewing, some local for private use only growing/manufacturing would apply. Very simple.

At the same time, I am somewhat against any governmental-inspired effort at drug testing on a personal level. That should be left up to individual families. with no government interference. What the Syracuse police are doing is strictly voluntary. If it were mandated, well, that would be a different story. It is a parental right to "legislate" what an offspring does until age 18 or out of the parental house. Of course that may change now that a "child" has to be covered under parental health care insurance until age 26.....but that's a different story. If a 18-26 year old is covered under health care, can his/her parents insist on drug abuse classes for this "minor" children. Always be careful for what you ask.

Having your kid submit a drug test... yeah, that seems like a great way to encourage openness and honesty! I can think of far better ways of bringing up marijuana usage with your child.

I'm not a parent, but I was a step-parent of a teenager for awhile and I can assure you I was much more concerned about whether she was doing drugs regularly, not just one day of the year.

I don't smoke, but its still stupid.. If parents are so concerned about this they should be paying for this by themselves...
like seriously they are wasting tax money for a stupid reason... What's next?...

They're handing out $17.99 pot kids? And the taxpayers fall for this rip. Watch Caddy sales go thru the roof in Syracuse. I don't even like pot, but if I lived in Syracuse, I'd be blasted 24/7.

Power to the parents.

Perhaps those concerned parents ought to buy these tests themselves rather than making tax payers buy it for them.

Parasites all.

indeed, its sad that we have to pay it for them

Marijuana should be legal but children should not be smoking it. Those children under 18 Taking THC for medical reasons is an exception, the benefits of the drug far outweigh the risks; especially when compared to the nasty effects of "mainstream" treatments that destroy our bodies

I agree that teenagers shouldn't be smoking pot, but I don't see why parents who are concerned their children are taking drugs (and lying about it, since I'd hope the parents would try to find out openly and honestly before submitting to such a thing) need these tests for free, let the parents pay for the test kits. I don't want my tax dollars paying for their inability to know what their kids are doing.

I agree our tax dollars shouldn't be going towards these

i don't want to have to pay for somebody else s drug tests.

it parents are that concerned with what their kids are doing, let them buy their OWN damn drug tests.

Then don't vote for universal health care in 2012. You'll be paying for it.

where is your evidence that any form of health care covers drug testing?

that's a law enforcement thing, not a health care thing.

None, yet. See pp. 6, 14, 15

http://www.healthcare.gov/law...

Also, states do, and may, add requirements to the health care law. I moved from Virginia to North Carolina in January 2012. In North Carolina EVERY TIME you have a doctor's appointment, you have to bring ALL your medications with you. EVERY TIME you visit the doctor, the medicines are reviewed, and you have to take a drug test, and sign a waiver that you will not sell, trade, nor otherwise deal in any drugs you receive from the physician. Any evidence of this will result in cancellation of the patient with the physician. Didn't have that in Virginia. Now the NC legislature is trying to add its own provisions to dental care/dental insurance. Cost of Physician' appointment: $130.00. My co-pay: $20.00. Who do you think pays for the drug test?

This is first hand knowledge, not something off the web. WISE UP!

cant open the link you posted....still this is not a national health care issue.

everything you described screams state issue. sounds like a bunch of rightwingers in NC wanting to get all up in your medical business.

If you could open the link, you could see for yourself the HHS longrange strategy. I don't care what you want to believe. You think Universal Healthcare is the bomb, so it really doesn't matter. Maybe you can open this link from the Democratic Underground:

http://sync.democraticundergr...

i believe what is factually evident... thanks for the working link.. it led me to this from whitehouse.gov

"Together, we have achieved significant reform in the way we address substance abuse. And the Affordable Care Act will—for the first time—require insurers to cover treatment for drug addiction the same way they would other chronic diseases. This is a revolutionary shift in how we address drug policy in America. "

so from this you deduce that the ACA is going to pay for drug tests for ppl who are NOT in treatment?

how who been smoking what, exactly?

How do you expect they will deduce addiction requiring treatment? DUH! Who pays for it? DUH! WE do. My health insurance premium went up after the passage of the ACA. I now have a monthly "contribution $200/mo. more than 2011. I now have over $6000 in healthcare expenses from January to April 2012 versus 2011 (A total of $8800 that year). It's useless to argue with you. You like it; I hate it. If you believe that you and I are not paying for drug testing, you are kidding yourself.

i expect they will "deduce" it from my seeking TREATMENT for it...

what part of this do you not understand?


oh, and btw the ACA is NOT universal heath care... just so you know.

Yeah, I'm pretty stupid, alright. Buh-bye!

you said it, not me.

Well stated!

Haha...hah. I'm for legalising cannabis but this is something that should be encouraged. The law in there for a reason, not to mention the fact that parents should know or be able to find out whether their children are partaking in illegal substances. You wouldn't be a good parent if you didn't care. It's called, taking good care of the things you make.

if they are such good parents, why don't they buy their own drug tests?

why should I be FORCED to pay for their poor parenting.

You don't 'have' to live in the US.

Neither do you.

Try thinking.

I don't live in the US...try doing some research.

I live in a place where we do this routinely to help those around us.