This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on May 3, 2013.
It is understood that medical marijuana patients will be allowed to continue their medical use. Would this legislation help to increase the number of patients in the State?
The House signed this week on two bills that aim to make sure individuals on welfare aren’t using drugs and their children are showing up for school.
One of the measures, HB 4118, sponsored by Rep. Jeff FARRINGTON (R-Utica), would establish a suspicion-based drug-screening program for public assistance recipients. It passed by a vote of 77-33.
The other, HB 4388, sponsored by Rep. Al PSCHOLKA (R-Stevensville), would codify state efforts to ensure children of welfare recipients aren’t repeatedly missing schools.
If the children are truant, the families could risk losing their cash assistance under the legislation.
That bill passed 78-32 after Pscholka delivered a passionate speech in favor of it on the floor this afternoon.
Pscholka, who started a mentoring program in Benton Harbor 17 years ago, spoke specifically about one student he’s mentored named Joquay. Pscholka said he made a promise to the student to be at his academy every Monday at 9:30 a.m. to help him.
However, it wasn’t Pscholka who frequently missed the meetings. It was Joquay.
Pscholka said he believes that education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty. He added that he wants children to be in school so they have opportunities.
“All kids can learn,” he said. “They need the opportunity. They need the chance.”
Rep. Marcia HOVEY-WRIGHT (D-Muskegon) opposed the bill, arguing that it was more punitive than helpful and that it doesn’t address the true barriers facing a student with attendance problems.
“The entire family will be punished,” she added.
Twenty-nine Democrats joined Hovey-Wright in opposition to Pscholka’s bill today along with two Republicans — Reps. Martin HOWRYLAK (R-Troy) and Tom McMILLIN (R-Rochester Hills).
Farrington’s bill passed with 31 Democrats in opposition, along with Howrylak and McMillin.
HB 4118 would establish a pilot program, through which individuals who tested positive for illegal drug use would be referred to a substance abuse coordination agency. If the individuals tested positive again, they would lose their benefits.
Farrington said the bill was needed to make sure the state’s limited resources weren’t going to individuals who spent the money on illegal drugs. He also argued that the bill’s requirements would help people transition off public assistance.
The bill, Farrington said, was inspired by questions from constituents who asked why they had to pass drug tests to get jobs but welfare recipients didn’t have to pass drug tests to get welfare.
With this reform, lawmakers could look constituents in the eye and let them know there is consistency, Farrington said.
Three lawmakers spoke for the bill on the floor today. Five others, including McMillin, spoke against it.
McMillin said while he appreciated the intent of the measure, he doesn’t believe government should be gathering DNA from citizens. And if the state is going to test welfare recipients, it should also test recipients of corporate welfare, he said.
Rep. Jeff IRWIN (D-Ann Arbor) agreed with that thought.
Irwin said the bill would punish an entire family for actions of one person and he said the bill did nothing to regulate individuals who receive corporate welfare through the Michigan Strategic Fund.
“It exempts the biggest welfare recipients in our state,” Irwin said.
Rep. David NATHAN (D-Detroit) also argued against the bill, saying it, like HB 4388, was punitive.
“When you talk about taking away something from someone because they do something,” Nathan said, “that’s punitive.”
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