Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

just worked on equipment.  in no way a healhcare professional or anything like that. not trying to say i was anything special 

ok then lets get back to topic.... sprint cars....  I do not want someone to be impaired behind the wheel nor do i want a track official, promoter or anyone running the program impaired.  I personally haven't ever been involved with a group of racers that i thought was under the infuence of a substance.  Thats just my experience.  Yes i want drivers to be sober on raceday, but i don't care what they do on their time.  why not random field sobriety tests for starters, isn't that the standard before proceeding to a breathalyzer on highways???  Now I ask you this.... If a driver has a dr prescription for cbd oil or medicinal cannabis can he race???  He may or may not pass that piss test, but he isn't getting impaired.  maybe he is getting over some form of cancer, crohns, chronic pain, ptsd, healing from a broken arm or torn muscle etc....  I know its hard for some people to get the image of some dude just getting stoned out of their mind. BUT, this plant is doing some amazing things for people with health issues where big pharma is falling short.  Once they know they can't profit off your disease you become untreatable.  Is someone who gets drunk 3 days before a race any different than someone who smokes or eats an edible 3 days before a race???  Where can we find common ground????

I just can't image anyone not passing the drug testing.   After all they are being more than enough time to study before the first test.

I'm in agreement with drivers not being impaired but the cannibus issue has become a hodge podge of conflicting regulations all across the country.  One thing they're now doing with the medical is breeding strains that contain all of the healing properties but don't get the user high.  This was done specifically for adults who want the medical benefits without the intoxication and children using it for seizure control and that sort of thing.  To take it a step furhter it's a proven fact that the hemp plant has many industrial uses, a renewable source of paper comes to mind but the forest industry has kept that in check.

I am all for Sprint Car drivers having a clear head out on the track but the flip side of the coin is that back in the 60's I never expected that I'd still be seeing cannibus demonized at 65 years old.  The federal government has stubbornly held onto the schedule 1 designation even though it's clear that the substance doesn't even come close to the cost to society of tabacco and alcohol.  Considering the cost and danger of running a Sprint Car I doubt that any full time Outlaw driver is partaking.  Probably a more realistic possibility is that they might catch some local driver with thc in their system.  If anyone driving Sprints locally smokes a little on their own time they're probably going to avoid running with the Outlaws rather than potentially having to go through the testing process.  I doubt that it's a widespread issue but if it is happening on the local level all this is going to do is thin out the field a car or two all season.

Cheech Marin of Cheech and Chong fame commented in an interview that the first time he tried it his fist thought was "what else is the government lying to us about".  That pretty much sums up my first thoughts as well.  At my age this really isn't an issue for me personally, I don't even drink beer anymore, but I have seen a tremendous amount of taxpayer resources wasted and lives ruined in an attempt to regulate this substance.  I think that common sense should prevail now that it's legal recreationally and medically in the majority states.  Common sense in easing regulations for the public but also common sense in that people involved in a dangerous profession such as racing Sprint Cars would value their privilege of being able to race for a living enough to avoid anything that would impair their abilities.

Stan Meissner

Thank you for your response and views.

I can appreciate the medical use argument. I mean who can argue against a terminally ill cancer patient or epileptic child accessing beneficial medical treatment. I think nearly everyone would support that. But if we're honest that's the "common ground" argument that recreational use supporters get behind to crack the door open. All one has to do is take a stroll down Venice Beach to realize it can be found "medically necessary" for anyone and everyone.

But that's probably off-topic so back to racing...

Common ground. Regardless of any of our individual views on legalizing marijuana, I'd like to think 100% of us would agree someone should not get behind the wheel to race or carry out their duties in the pits while impaired/under the influence (from any substance). And while we may all have a right to do as we please on our own time within the law, that does not imply that we can also participate in any and every activity as well. There are many examples of choosing to exercise one particular right limiting other choices available to us. Or vice versa.

Racing is a choice. If current, practical testing procedures can't distinguish someone currently impaired vs residual from a few days ago, so be it. If your choice is to race, you are limiting your right to do anything you please, even in your off time. If you want to do as you please, you limit your choice to participate in racing. Nothing constitutionally tragic about it either way.

So i can do coke, meth, benzos till wednesday and be clean on saturday.  One of the original reasons I hate drug testing is i played college sports and i know how they let certain individuals throught the system.  So first of all it isn't fair to everyone.  Unless they take blood its easy to beat.  whizinator devices, etc...  reverse cath... whatever.  You got to remember they are making money because people want to see them perform. I personally seen a head coach ask a player if he was clean and what steps they need to get around the piss test.  Funny thing is the guys build was god given...barely made it to the gym.  Was the eventual SEC player of the year and played 8 yrs in the NFL.  The majority of flunked tests are from players that are already liabilities or locker room cancers. From my personal experience in 2 football programs and 1 baseball program 70%+ smoke at least occasionally.  Its has to be that, if not more now with states legalizing. I would bet my life everytime you turn on to your favorite team, college or pro, the overwealming majority use cannabis.  It heals, relaxes and recoups the body and mind.  Its politically correct to say you have standard to a national audience.  Until recently nfl players got suspended longer for drugs than beating the shit out of their wives.  The second reason I hate testing is when i get called to go to a testing center for work the one my company uses makes me pull my pants down past my knees and someone watches me piss in a cup.  I always make sure to ask how they got that job and i bet they love it.  I operate no heavy machinary.  Next time you visit a hospital, rest home, mall, school, etc.. and you have wifi on your phone you are welcome and it was done drug free.  If the hotspots suck then blame someone else...lol!!!  

Well said!

As stan pointed out industrial hemp has limitless uses.  Why is it illegal when you cant get even a buzz from smoking the plant?  Because it does everything corn, oil, timber, and big pharma can do but better.  you first have to look at all the corporations it threatens to understand why its illegal.  Doesn't require the use of gmo seeds, chemicals etc...  leaves the soil better off than before it was planted.  The gov. already knows it lost the war on drugs, thats why they are allowing a few states at a time to legalize before it gets lifted federally.  Once the major corporations and players are in place to controll it nationally then prohibition will end.   Uncle sam knows the time has shifted from it being more profitable illegal than legal.   If we all claim to live in a democracy then the time has come hasn't it???  Founders developed a Constitutional republic but thats gone now.  The majority of the country now side with legalization according to almost all polls.  Testing for Cannabis use and not Cannabis impairment is a slap in the face to any medicinal user. Not having an exemption for cannabis like other prescriptions is a slap in the face to anyone suffering and forced to use the governments drugs while they die.  Why should a family have to uproot and move to save a loved ones life?  Why in the most free country in the world should someone have to move to another state or go out of country for treatment.  How did treating an ailment or trying to get healthy become a revolutionary act in the united states of america.  If its because the now minority is holding on to the notion it could get used recreationally like alchohol that is sad.  If its because big pharma, insurance companies, bureaucrats, and the justice system cant profit off it, that is sad.  

I wonder if other racing organizations will follow the WoO lead on this, I think it’s a matter of time before they do.

This sure could make a point’s race interesting. I would be rather suspicious of any baked goods being offered to the point’s leader ... lol

Depends on the drivers from the other sanctions/areas participation with the WoO. I'll use the allstars as an example. Most (if not all of their drivers) will frequently race at WoO events. If I owned the sanction, I wouldn't waste my money testing them because the WoO would already be doing that part for me. Why add the extra expense? On the other hand, it would be easy to get suspicious if one of the locals skipped all of the WoO shows in an area that they frequent. Maybe, they would decide to test that guy at one of their own events...

...

Wasn't that long ago people (some on this thread totally opposiing drug testing by the WoO) wanted to string up Tyler Walker on here for his drug issues and now they are mad because they actually want to have random drug tests for drivers, the hipocrasy......