Just Remember: NASA Employees Can't Use Cannabidiol (CBD) Oil
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Internal Memo Regarding Employee Use of Cannabidiol (CBD) Oil
“The lack of standards means there are CBD products being marketed that contains a sufficient level of THC to cause a positive drug test result. Please be aware that, the use of any compounds or substances not approved by the FDA cannot be used as a legitimate medical explanation for a positive drug test result. As a reminder, the use of illegal drugs by federal employees is not permissible under any circumstances, regardless of state and/or local laws; this includes the use of Marijuana or products that contains THC for recreational and/or medical purposes. NASA is authorized to conduct pre-employment testing of any individual who will occupy a testing designated position (TDP) and Random testing of employees who occupy a TDP. All employees are subject to testing under provisions for reasonable suspicion and post-accident and/or unsafe practice testing regardless of the TDP designation of their position.”
No wonder NASA is only able to design traditional launch vehicles like SLS and not radical ones like SHS.??
I hate to be that guy, but I’ll bet in all seriousness – this policy would have saved fewer astronauts than paying attention to managerial issues like those that killed the crews of Columbia and Challenger. Seems like the priorities are all messed up here.
I don’t really think any astronauts lives were at risk, and I’m not a fan of laws against THC. But I think this isn’t a bad idea. No matter what I think, or anyone within NASA thinks, federal laws do call for drug testing in the described situations. And that can get employees in trouble if they are using THC for medicinal or recreational purposes. There is a bit of confusion over States decriminalizing drug use while the federal government has not. Reminding federal employees about what the regulations are is not a bad thing, even if there are real flaws with those regulations.
Personally, I find the reminder less troubling than the part about, “All employees are subject to testing under provisions for reasonable suspicion…” That sort of rule is an open door to managers (who decide if there is a “reasonable suspicion”) to make life hard on employees they don’t like, and exempt managers from the same standards. If someone really wants a drug-free workplace, let’s make the retesting truly random and include the managers and politicians who insist on that policy. A political satirist once said breathalyzer tests for Congressmen, before allowing them to vote, might not be a bad idea.
I agree that NASA and indeed all contractors must obey federal law. The problem is that this federal law is idiotic and destructive. I treat patients for opiate addiction, more than half of them were hooked by careless or uncaring physicians. Opiates, which are incredibly dangerous, are legal (with a prescription). Marijuana, which is so safe that there is not a single confirmed case of a death due to overdose and has benefited many of my patients, is illegal under federal law and millions of Americans have been imprisoned for using it. The main opposition to legalization is not from science or medicine, but from the law enforcement industry. We need to switch to computerized reaction time testing for impairment and autonomous vehicles for driving.
Good to know!. Note to self…do not pass my Rubi Pen with 1:1 CBD/THC to any of the astronauts I happen to be hanging out with. 🙂