The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol already has 200,000 signatures to get their initiative the Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act on the ballot for the November 2016 general election in Arizona, so we need to talk about this.
If recreational marijuana becomes legal in November law enforcement, EMS, and fire agencies will need to revise their policies on marijuana use. In 2013 CBS 5 Investigates traveled from Phoenix to Dolan Springs to interview me about the use of medical marijuana by first responders.
Back in 2013 most agencies including DPS didn't have a policy on medical marijuana. CBS 5 only found 3 agencies with specific policies on medical marijuana. Yuma does allow city employees, including firefighters and EMTs to use medical marijuana as long as it is off-duty. Gilbert Fire Department allows employees to have medical marijuana cards, but may reassign or put the employee on paid leave, and Chandler Police Department prohibit officers from having a medical marijuana card.
What's the LMRFD going to do if recreational marijuana becomes legal? We were told that when the LMRFD started drug testing several years ago, they lost many of the volunteers we depended on.
We would never want anyone to respond to fire or EMS calls while impaired on marijuana, alcohol, or anything else. That said, I would much prefer to have a first responder who used marijuana the night before, rather than one who had a hangover.
Marijuana is legal in one form or another in 23 states and the District of Columbia, and medical marijuana or legalization is on the ballot in as many as 20 states in 2016.
First Responders and Alcohol
Cops and firefighters are notorious drinkers, in many towns there are cop or firefighter bars. Ask anyone who's been on the job more than a few months and they'll have stories about drunk cops pr firefighters.
In Spokane a DEA agent pulled out of the Sheridan Inn and hit a Spokane police car broadside. He didn't go to jail back then, but was held until a supervisor arrived from Seattle. He was never charged.
My Undersheriff from Lincoln County got in a fight downtown Spokane. When officers tried to arrest him, he was threatening to tip over their patrol cars. He was 6'5" 300 pounds and they were worried he could really do it, so the sheriff had to talk him down. We go a new undersheriff after that.
One Christmas I was working dispatch while the local fire department was having their party, I punched out the fire tones ringing all 30 pagers at once, after a long pause I said Merry Christmas. After a few minutes the phone rang, it was the firefighters telling me I scared the hell out of them because no one was in any condition to respond to a fire.
Here are some links about first responders and alcohol abuse
Who Will Rescue the Heroes
Firefighters and alcohol
Alcohol and the badge
They drink when they're blue
What about Marijuana Marijuana vs Alcohol
Many police and fire agencies where it's legal are still not allowing their employees to use marijuana for medical or recreational purposes. If you have ever had bad hangover from alcohol, you know you're not functioning their best. Yet it's ok to drink the night away and show up for duty the next day. Is this the EMT you want showing up when you need medical care?
Marijuana on the other hand doesn't cause a devastating handover leaving someone barley functioning the next morning. No one should ever come to work high or with a hangover. If they're not in top condition, go home.
Drug Testing
People using alcohol or meth can pass drug tests......
Many people today use marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. It's sad that someone who drinks alcohol everyday can be a volunteer for the LMRFD, but someone who used marijuana a month ago would be rejected for failing a drug test. Someone who used meth on Friday can pass a drug test on Monday. Marijuana stays in the system for 30 days, meth and most other serious drugs only 72 hours.
We need to change some of our policies on drug testing. Before the LMRFD required drug testing we had a lot of volunteers. How many injuries or accidents did we have?
Was the drug testing policy changed because of real safety issues and documented accidents, or to be politically correct?
I can only hope in November we choose to stop destroying lives by legalizing recreational marijuana in Arizona.
Jay Fleming
Speaker
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)
LINK to My Speakers Page
LINK to LEAP Web Page
Marijuana and Kids
Why legalizing weed is unlikely to turn your kid into a pothead
Cartels are Losing Money Because of Legal Marijuana
Marijuana Legalization: Bad For The Cartels, Better For All
This article tells how many police officers including myself feel about the drug war today.
Why I Hated Being a Cop
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