West Virginia: No Drug Tests for Welfare Candidates!
A 2014 Time Magazine report showed that fewer welfare candidates tested positive for drugs than their wealthier counterparts, but West Virginia still seeks to stigmatize the poor with useless drug tests.
West Virginia just passed a new bill into law that would require welfare recipients to take a drug test before receiving benefits. Those that test positive can still receive benefits as long as they enroll in drug treatment programs. Failing the test a second time would result in loss of benefits for a year, and a third failure would ban the candidate from benefits for life.
Tennessee is one of the states that requires drug tests for welfare candidates, but in Time Magazine's report, only one person out of the 800 who applied tested positive. Florida had a similar program for four months, but was ruled unconstitutional after statistics showed only 2.6% of candidates tested positive compared to an 8% drug use rate in the general population.
The idea behind drug tests for welfare candidates is rooted in stereotypes that the poor are more likely to use drugs, and taxpayers' dollars shouldn't go toward enabling drug addiction. In truth, these degrading drug tests waste more dollars than they save.
It is up to the federal government to make the final decision on West Virginia's drug testing law. Please sign the petition to urge the federal government to prevent mandatory drug tests for West Virginia's welfare candidates!
As you may know, West Virginia just passed a new bill into law that would require welfare recipients to take a drug test before receiving benefits. Those that test positive can still receive benefits as long as they enroll in drug treatment programs. Failing the test a second time would result in loss of benefits for a year, and a third failure would ban the candidate from benefits for life.
Tennessee is one of the states that requires drug tests for welfare candidates, but in a 2014 Time Magazine's report, only one person out of the 800 who applied tested positive. Florida had a similar program for four months, but was ruled unconstitutional after statistics showed only 2.6% of candidates tested positive compared to an 8% drug use rate in the general population.
The idea behind drug tests for welfare candidates is rooted in stereotypes that the poor are more likely to use drugs, and taxpayers' dollars shouldn't go toward enabling drug addiction. In truth, these degrading drug tests waste more dollars than they save.
It is up to you to make the final decision on West Virginia's drug testing law. I respectfully urge you to prevent mandatory drug tests for West Virginia's welfare candidates. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this petition.
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