cannabisnews.com: U.S. Students To Get Experimental Drug Tests! U.S. Students To Get Experimental Drug Tests! Posted by FoM on August 10, 1999 at 19:36:17 PT Breaking News Source: San Jose Mercury WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 10,000 students in Oregon and Washington state will be tested for drugs starting next year as part of an experiment to see if the tests discourage illegal drug use, researchers said Tuesday. The team at Oregon Health Sciences University will randomly test the students at 24 Oregon and Washington high schools over the next five years.They said they received a $3.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to do the study, in which students will be chosen for tests using a lottery system.``Drug testing may be an effective deterrent for substance abuse among high school athletes, but we can't confirm that without studying it,'' Dr. Linn Goldberg, who will help direct the study, said in a statement.``If it is effective, we can provide athletes with an acceptable way to resist peer pressure and say no to drugs and alcohol.''Sixty percent of 1,3000 students Goldberg and colleagues surveyed in 1997 said they had used alcohol, and 25 percent said they used marijuana -- but only nine percent said they would continue using drugs or alcohol if they were tested.``If we can identify kids who are experimenting with drugs, it could greatly assist parents and schools to get them help,'' Goldberg said. ``If testing does not work, scarce prevention dollars can be used for other scientifically established programs that work.''Posted at 4:46 p.m. PDT Tuesday, August 10, 1999 Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by FoM on August 11, 1999 at 08:16:55 PT My Opinion Many young people will have their lives wrecked by this drug testing law. Why don't they see that you can't legislate the curiosity of the young? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Ally on August 11, 1999 at 07:23:06 PT This is just another ploy... To take away our rights! We had a number of searches conducted at the high schoold last September and October. The searches did yield a little bit of cannabis! I would refuse to take the test, and then have my parent's call our attorney. You have rights under the law just like some of the above post's stated! Probable cause and stuff like that...Harrassment! Just to name a few! Shalom, Ally [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FedRegs on August 11, 1999 at 05:56:52 PT The wrong arguments For God's sake, if you're going to argue against drug testing, at least come up with an argument that hasn't been made -- and defeated -- any number of times. Ever heard of Acton v. Vernonia School District? The US Supreme Court, which under the Constitution is responsible for interpreting its provisions, says random drug testing of students involved in extracurricular activities is NOT unconstitutional. Not on any basis. Not under any amendment (1st, 4th, 5th, 6th or 14th). As they say in legal circles, this is a question that has been asked and answered. So find a new one. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Doctor Dave on August 11, 1999 at 00:37:52 PT Just Say "No" Students asked to take a drug test should follow Nancy Reagan's advice and "Just Say No". It doesn't matter whether or not they have used drugs, (ever hear of a false positive result?) this is a matter of the rights outlined in anonymous's comment. I don't believe students can be required to take a test simply by being students.Doctor Dave [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by anonymous on August 10, 1999 at 19:54:09 PT marijuana policy Random drug testing violates at least 3 established legal and constitutional principles; 1: freedom from unreasonable search and seizure. 2: the right not to testify against yourself. 3) assumed innocent until proven guilty. What has happened to the land that I love. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: