Medical Cannabis Gets 87-Year-Old Woman Kicked out of Housing

Vicki

Herbal Alchemist
***Stories like this really piss me off. :cuss:

Medical Cannabis Gets 87-Year-Old Woman Kicked out of Housing

http://www.ladybud.com/2014/08/12/medical-cannabis-gets-87-year-old-woman-kicked-out-of-housing/

It truly sounds like something published by The Onion: an 87-year-old who has rented the same subsidized apartment for the last five years is being kicked out for violating their drug policy even though she lives in Durango, Colorado and has a recommendation from her doctor for her cannabis use.

Reportedly, a compliance officer smelled cannabis coming from Leo Oliver’s apartment. The result of that complaint was that the elderly woman, who says she wasn’t smoking at the time but has previously used cannabis for her arthritis pain, has only 10 days to find new housing on her fixed Social Security income.

A representative from the housing complex, who refused to discuss the specific case, told The Durango Herald that the standard policy is zero tolerance for anything illegal at the federal level, including cannabis. That means that although the state of Colorado allows for medical cannabis use and recreational use by adults, those who depend on state assistance are taking huge risks by choosing the lowest-rick medical option.

The only real defense these housing complexes can offer is that, somewhere, buried in pages of incomprehensible legalese which their signing agents encourage people to skip without reading, there’s a clause explaining that in their housing units, federal law trumps state law. And these laws don’t just apply to folks who want to grow cannabis; if you receive housing aid and even possess or consume cannabis, your aid could be at risk.

For Lea Oliver, the realization that this conflict is a serious issue comes too late; she has already been told she has to seek alternate housing. For people like her, with serious medical conditions, limited income, and very little support, the enforcement of an unscientific (and legally questionable) federal policy means the total destruction of what little safety and stability she did have.

Our social safety net is failing, and the government is trying to ensure that it specifically fails those who choose to use cannabis instead of addictive prescription pills.

What do you think? Should federal law trump state law in this case? Should the sick, disabled, and elderly be forced out of medical cannabis programs if they want to receive housing and other aid?
 

Crohnie

Crohn's Warrior
From a purely de facto legal standpoint, Federal law does, unfortunately, trump state law in this case. Constitutionally, it's quite a different matter. Any issues not spelled out in the Constitution are supposed to be left up to the individual states to decide. Since drug use is not mentioned, it SHOULD be up to the states to decide their own policies. From a moral point of view, the actions taken against this woman are reprehensible.

Due to my disability status, I've lived in federally subsidized housing in the past, so forgive me for playing the Devil's Advocate. I do not mean to sound unsympathetic. It's made pretty clear to you that drug use is cause for short notice eviction. You have to sign numerous documents agreeing to this, even if you're 87. I realized the risk I was taking...Illinois was not a medical state then. Long story short, she signed a contract agreeing to those conditions. Should it be that way? No, of course not. Especially since she was a medical patient. Perhaps in the future this will change. Poor thing, sigh...
 

t-dub

Vapor Sloth
Just wait. Drug (and other substance) testing will be required for any/all federal benefits in the future. This will be done at hospitals/malls/sporting events/airports etc wherever the governments deems it has an interest in public safety. They have machines now, a picosecond laser, that can tell you what you had for breakfast from 164 feet away so the first time you walk past one and test "positive" for anything they don't like, it will hit your now permanent, federal, health/criminal record with the IRS/DHS and you will be dealt with accordingly.
Gizmodo said:
Within the next year or two, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will instantly know everything about your body, clothes, and luggage with a new laser-based molecular scanner fired from 164 feet (50 meters) away. From traces of drugs or gun powder on your clothes to what you had for breakfast to the adrenaline level in your body—agents will be able to get any information they want without even touching you.

http://gizmodo.com/5923980/the-secret-government-laser-that-instantly-knows-everything-about-you

17scprpaf4d2vjpg.jpg
 

Crohnie

Crohn's Warrior
Just wait. Drug (and other substance) testing will be required for any/all federal benefits in the future. This will be done at hospitals/malls/sporting events/airports etc wherever the governments deems it has an interest in public safety. They have machines now, a picosecond laser, that can tell you what you had for breakfast from 164 feet away so the first time you walk past one and test "positive" for anything they don't like, it will hit your now permanent, federal, health/criminal record with the IRS/DHS and you will be dealt with accordingly.


http://gizmodo.com/5923980/the-secret-government-laser-that-instantly-knows-everything-about-you

17scprpaf4d2vjpg.jpg
Fortunately drug testing as a condition for federal funds has been declared Unconstitutional quite a few times now. The reason for this is that applying for and receiving federal funds is not probable cause of drug use. The Supreme Court has ruled that the Federal government may not drug test their employees as a condition of employment. Exceptions are made for some high level security positions. Other than that the court ruled the Federal govt. MUST have probable cause of drug use before being allowed to test employees.
 

t-dub

Vapor Sloth
Fortunately drug testing as a condition for federal funds has been declared Unconstitutional quite a few times now. The reason for this is that applying for and receiving federal funds is not probable cause of drug use. The Supreme Court has ruled that the Federal government may not drug test their employees as a condition of employment. Exceptions are made for some high level security positions. Other than that the court ruled the Federal govt. MUST have probable cause of drug use before being allowed to test employees.
Yes I understand but my guess is that will change in the "interest of public safety". Like the Patriot Act.
 
t-dub,
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Crohnie

Crohn's Warrior
Yes I understand but my guess is that will change in the "interest of public safety". Like the Patriot Act.
Yeah, I know what you mean. Our 4th Amendment rights have certainly been trampled upon. Not that it couldn't happen, but fortunately, this particular issue (privacy of one's body from searches) is spelled out in a crystal clear fashion in the Constitution. It's been declared Unconstitutional in every state it's been tried.
 

Crohnie

Crohn's Warrior
This is all the more reason to push for re-scheduling at the federal level,
hopefully as mmj states become the majority this will happen.
:popcorn:
Amen to that. And it would also help if medical cannabis would legally be considered a prescription medication. Can't toss you out for taking your prescription medication.
 

Thorn

Active Member
There is seriously something wrong with us as a society for things to happen like they did for this woman. A real soul sickness. The woman is 87 years old, leave her alone to do as she pleases. No, people have to be pricks just because they can.
And still I'm asked why I live like a hermit.

*Stupid auto correct. Wouldn't allow me to write" pricks" .
 
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Thorn,
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grokit

well-worn member
Economic status is the lifeblood of our supposedly "classless" capitalistic society. If you have no status and no family you are dependent on strangers, meaning more people get "left behind" every day. Our safety net is stretched thinner than ever these days and this is very unfortunate. The first group of people left behind were the mentally ill back in the 1980s, now it's the economically ill that are up for slaughter. I see old folks on the street and mandatory ebola vaccinations for children. The future for the least able to cope with this cascade of crap seems like it will be grim indeed in the land of the free (to fuck each other over).
:myday::disgust:
 

Detonator

Well-Known Member
she needs to refuse to leave , get local media, the aarp, or someone to help her out...... terrible
 
Detonator,

Jared

Cannabis Enthusiast
Unfortunately she has no legal ground to stand on. If she tried to stay paid government agents would come remove her from the property and place her in a nice cozy jail cell.
 
Jared,
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