Detroit Free Press: Medical pot creates workplace dilemma

[marmar]

Medical pot creates workplace dilemma
Users say it's private but employers may not agree

BY KATHLEEN GRAY
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER


Steven Karapandza says his use of prescription marijuana to help ease the pain of daily migraine headaches is none of his boss' business.

He never smokes pot on the job. He doesn't come to work high, and he gets his work done without fail, he said.

"In my mind, it's like any other medication," said Karapandza, 28, a Sterling Heights resident and cell phone repairman. "You wouldn't go up to your boss and tell him you've got a prescription for Vicodin."

Karapandza is among 5,108 Michiganders registered as medical marijuana users since a new law passed last fall by voters took effect in April.

Another 2,092 people have been approved as caregivers. About 1,100 applications have been denied under the law that permits marijuana prescriptions for pain relief among people who are chronically and terminally ill. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.freep.com/article/20091102/NEWS06/911020354/1318/Medical-pot-creates-workplace-dilemma-for-many-employers

[drm604]

1. HIPAA

Would requiring testing for something that has a legal medical use be a HIPAA violation? I'm not a lawyer but it strikes me that it might be. It's a violation of medical privacy.

[Dogtown]

2. Opiates n/t

[drm604]

3. You're point being?

Are opiates an exception to HIPAA? I had to take HIPAA training for a previous job and I don't recall anything about opiates. (Not arguing with you, just trying to learn.)

[Dogtown]

6. "Would requiring testing for something that has a legal medical use be a HIPAA violation?"

Tests for opiates, which clearly do have a valid medical usage, are frequently mandated; hence, a mandated test for marijuana, *even though it has medical value* would seem to follow that example.


I have no intimate knowledge of HIPAA.

[Romulox]

4. Unfortunately, the Federal law recognizes "no medical use" for pot

So I doubt a Federal law like HIPAA could provide a shield.

[Romulox]

5. The article is stupid; if it's not my boss's business if I'm on Vicodin, an SSRI, or Viagra

then why would pot be any different?

PS: The continuing rightward shift that is evidenced in this "concern" piece is a big reason I don't take the Freep. :hi: