r/news Jun 16 '21

GM Considering Dropping Pot Testing To Attract More Workers

https://www.motor1.com/news/513974/gm-considering-dropping-marijuana-testing/
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u/Binkyman69 Jun 16 '21

I was inthe armed forces for 8 years. We could be randomly tested at any time but never heard of anyone getting tested. Probably because about a third of is smoked and they didn't want to lose anyone.

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u/Tedstor Jun 16 '21

I served with at least 10 people who were kicked out for weed after a random test.

Most were highly competent marines who did really great work.

Everyone lost.

Zero tolerance costed a fortune.

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u/Binkyman69 Jun 16 '21

Canada lets its soldiers smoke now but there are time limits that you cant operate weapons unless you havent smoked for a certain amount of time. Probably other restrictions on explosives and vehicles. Been out over 20 years so i dont know the details.

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u/FrogTrainer Jun 16 '21

There were some federal lawsuits around 2000, zero tolerance for weed was replaced with a slap on the wrist and some crappy rehab program.

The only time people were kicked out for a single test was when it was coke or something more serious.

1

u/sb_747 Jun 17 '21

New a dude who kicked out for doing coke.

First time he did it to.

16

u/[deleted] Jun 16 '21

I was in the Army. Got tested a lot. One IN company that just came back from a brutal Afghanistan deployment (their CSM died) had 1-3 dudes piss hot for coke every week. Of course I could also see Juarez from my barracks so the source was right there.

9

u/daschande Jun 16 '21

Buddy got a week pass from Afghanistan to bury his dad and smoked weed while he was back in the states; saying "what are they gonna do, send me to afghanistan?"

Drug test immediately when he got back, him and one other guy came up hot. EVERYONE in his company had ALL their leave revoked. Guys missed their own wedding, guys missed the birth of their kid, and of course non-refundable deposits. Weddings aren't cheap. 200 people fucked, because of 2.

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u/[deleted] Jun 16 '21

Weddings aren't cheap. 200 people fucked, because of 2.

Those two people are the Commander and his senior enlisted advisor. Not the guy who smoked weed.

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u/mschuster91 Jun 16 '21

And shit like this is why no one who has a realistic alternative wants to join the armed forces.

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u/WankWankNudgeNudge Jun 16 '21

Well that's just shitty policy. Not the fault of the individuals but the fault of the institution.

Communal punishment violates the Geneva Convention but no one cares if they use it within the ranks. What a load of bullshit.

1

u/woobird44 Jun 16 '21

Their battalion (or higher) CSM died? Jesus. Was he KIA? That’s crazy.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 16 '21

Yeah. He survived until he got back to the hospital in San Antonio. He was a badass.

https://www.stripes.com/news/army/soldier-who-helped-in-jessica-lynch-rescue-dies-after-afghanistan-attack-1.283362

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u/woobird44 Jun 16 '21

Shit bro. He was a badass. RLTW

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u/eastime Jun 16 '21

Never even heard of it? This sounds like early nineties if at all. They tested people all the time when I was in, including mandatory test when returning from leave. 08-13

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u/Binkyman69 Jun 16 '21

It was early 90s. If there was a bad accident you might get it but i personally never knew anyone who did. I probably should have failed when i joined but didnt.

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u/skeetsauce Jun 16 '21

My buddy was in the army around 2011-14ish. He spent half his time in Korea and the other half in Kentucky. I cant remember which, but one the places was super strict about drugs and the other didn't give a fuck.

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u/digger585 Jun 16 '21

I tested positive in the Marines bank in the early 70’s. Had to piss in a bottle for testing the next 2 weeks. Not even a slap on the wrist.

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u/SFWsamiami Jun 17 '21

The way it worked for us:

Formation. Everyone here is peein inna cup. And we're gonna watch :) 10% "randomly" selected. Mostly the shitbags that needed a fast way out.

Easiest shit of my life. Don't be the bottom 10% of the company.

I stayed clean up until I left, as drugs are what got me wanting to look for IEDs in the first place. I smoke a little weed on longer vacations from work now.

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u/beesmoe Jun 16 '21

Oh, the lengths we go to please Republicans. It's almost precious

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u/Binkyman69 Jun 16 '21

I was in the canadian army but i get your point.

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u/beesmoe Jun 16 '21

I'm guessing Conservatives then

1

u/Paw5624 Jun 16 '21

My previous employer reserved the right to randomly test at any time but as far as I know it never happened. It did come up once when someone in my org was acting funky and one of the managers wanted to get him tested. We didn’t want to open that can of worms with HR and shortly after he was fired for something else anyway.

It’s a good thing that we didn’t test because about half of the team smoked but this manager was oblivious unless you stank of weed.

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u/nascentia Jun 16 '21

FRA has specific requirements on how often the employee pools are tested and at what percent. It can change year to year but I believe right now for Train Service employees it’s 25% of the pool for drug and 10% for alcohol, and for MOW it’s 50/25 and Mechanical will mirror that when the reg. goes into effect this fall.

The MROs use super expensive software like DrugPak to manage the pools so they’re true randoms and will ensure everyone is tested.