CHARLESTON — On March 2nd, Sen. Ron Stollings (D-7) introduced an amendment to S.B. 387, which sought to strike out the word ‘marijuana’ from substances that would be checked on drug tests administered when a person applies for cash assistance. Opponents of the amendment argued that it would allow taxpayer money to be used for the purpose of purchasing marijuana for illegal recreational use by welfare recipients.
“It basically strikes out marijuana from the drug screen, when we are testing the TANF population,” Sen. Stollings expressed. “The marijuana tends to stay in the urine drug stream for a very long time.”
Sen. Robert Karnes spoke in opposition to the amendment, discussing the dilemma with marijuana users being granted government assistance.
“I would oppose this amendment over a really basic premise,” Sen. Karnes continued. “We’re talking about people who are getting cash from taxpayers, who apparently (the premise is) if they test positive for marijuana, we’re apparently paying for their marijuana use. And so, I think that we have a role to say the taxpayers of the state of West Virginia should not be expected to pay for people to use marijuana.”
The amendment was defeated 21-11.
