Unintended Consequences - Doper Division

Currently there is much discussion of the number of job openings with few or no applicants. One reason no one seems to address is drug tests. Most employers require drug tests. Their reasons may vary insurance requirements, contracts, and personal preference but it is barrier. Self inflicted on the part of applicants, to be sure, but a barrier none the less.

 The decriminalization of the evil weed, or, in my state (CO) legalization, has caused unintended, or unforeseen, consequences.

 A lesser but real factor is the escalating housing costs in the urban areas where you find most jobs. In the Denver area a small apartment rents for $1,200 a month. $12 an hour times 40 hours times 4.33 weeks less 60% (taxes, federal, state, local) nets around $1,247. Two incomes are needed. Deduct child care and???? At $18 an hour the net is around $1,870. That leaves just over $600 for food, transportation, utilities, and insurance.

 A realistic look at inflation is somewhere in the mid teens at a minimum (real world – not government speak).

 Do I have answers? No, none that stand a chance until the economy completely collapses.

 For a different perspective I ran this by my 46 year old son who works in a factory environment. He is in his fifth year of sobriety and was never a drug user beyond a toke or two in social situations.

 He has no problem working with pot smokers, so long as they don’t get high on the job, and tells me many have as much trouble stopping pot as he did with alcohol.

 As always, YMMV.