A bill to limit the use of medical marijuana in the workplace has gone up in smoke. The bill would have expanded an employer's ability to prohibit the use of medical marijuana by workers in jobs deemed hazardous by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration, including construction, law enforcement, forest services and some manufacturing.

Associated General Contractors, representing commercial construction companies, said the bill was needed not only to prevent accidents but to keep construction companies from losing federal contracts for failing to abide by federal workplace drug laws.

The proposal, however, faced quick opposition from civil liberties organizations. It also failed to win backing from Associated Oregon Industries, an advocate for Oregon businesses that supported attempts to pass similar legislation in 2005 and 2007.

J.L Wilson, an AOI lobbyist, said this year's bill was too narrow in focus. "We feel this is a workplace issue that spans all sectors of employers, not just those in dangerous occupations," Wilson told the (Portland) Daily Journal of Commerce.

Under Oregon's 1998 medical marijuana law, employers don't have to let patients with medical marijuana cards smoke it in the workplace. But the law left it unclear whether employers must accommodate workers who smoke medical marijuana off the job.

In 2006, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled against a registered medical marijuana user who was fired from his job at a Columbia Forest Products plant after urine tests detected traces of the drug. But the court's decision avoided the central issue of marijuana use outside of the workplace.

The two industry groups said they intend to work together next year for a more comprehensive medical marijuana bill. Drew Hagedorn, a lobbyist for the Oregon-Columbia chapter of the Associated General Contractors, said the group's lobbying efforts for 2009 will also include pushes for more transportation funding and a shorter statute of repose on construction defect lawsuits.

The group is also working with legislators to fix a typo in House Bill 3242, which set new experience requirements for commercial construction licenses.

As written, the bill requires Level 2 contractors to have at least eight years of experience and Level 1 contractors to have at least four years. Those requirements will be flip-flopped. "The numbers were juxtaposed," Hagedorn said. "That was a concern for everyone because it serves as a barrier to entry-level contractors."

Contact: Associated Press

Source: OregonLive.com: Everything Oregon

Diuretics make people urinate frequently

Coffee, cranberry juice, beer, iced tea, herbal tea, and Pepsi are all good diuretics. Grapes are known to be very good diuretics. Diuretics without caffeine or alcohol are recommended because caffeine and alcohol have negative side effects. Cranberry juice is also the cheapest. Avoid salts. Herbal diuretics do better than home remedies like juices.

Ultimate Blend

This product used to be known as Test Free, but the name was changed. Ultimate Blend is a diuretic designed for the test, but works no better than other diuretics. Ultimate Blend is sold by Zydot Unlimited Inc.

Detoxify Carbo Clean

It claims to absorb toxins, however, experts say that absorbing THC metabolites from fat cells is impossible.

Here is a copy of the ad from Party Hut Enterprizes:

[Detox] Is a scientifically formulated carbohydrate blend that works by absorbing toxins and imuurities[sic]. It has been featured in High Times, and we are so confident of the results that we are offering a double-your-money-back guarantee for any failed results. This is the most complete program for the cleanest results! Precleanse (tm) herbal capsules are enclosed in every box of Carbo Clean. This extra advantage helps you begin cleansing the evening before the deadline. B-Complex tablets complete the program.

Naturally Klean Herbal Tea

Naturally Klean claims to clear any drug metabolites for a few hours after taking. Drink this shortly before the urine test. Naturally Klean was also listed as a drug screen in previous versions, but according to Nightbyrd, "it will do NOTHING to help you pass a urine test;" with the exception that it will dilute your urine. You can get Naturally Klean from Martha Butterfield-Jay Foundation or J&J Enterprizes. An anonymous user provided the ingredients list: dandelion root, burdock root, red clover top, chamomile flower, alfalfa leaf, licorice root, slippery elm inner bark, hibiscus flower, dog rose hips, natural fruit flavors. Dandelion root is said to be the effective diuretic.

Goldenseal

Goldenseal is a plant and you can get either the root or the leaves in pill form. It's also a liquid or tea. The liquid is rumored to absorb slower than the capsules. Goldenseal is a diuretic, but works no better than other diuretics. Furthermore, NORML reports that Goldenseal is now being tested for. Taking Goldenseal is a foolish waste.

Certa or Certo

Certa "has something to do with canning. Some people swear by it. Trouble is, it's always somebody else, a third party not present during the conversation, who uses it" (Pearson). I've heard rumors about people who smoked right up to the day before the test, consumed fruit pectin (a canning substance similar to Certa), and passed the test. However, there hasn't been any tests to validate those claims. Will someone with a lab at their disposal please test this stuff?

Lasix (furosemide)

Take an 80 milligram dose of prescription diuretic lasix (furosemide). Prescription diuretics are the most potent. Some over the counter diuretics will color your urine blue and should be avoided.

WARNING!

Diuretics can be harmful to people with kidney problems, pregnant women, and diabetics.

Hyper saturating your body with fluids will dilute metabolites possibly below the 50 ng/mL

Hyper saturating your body with fluids will dilute metabolites possibly below the 50 ng/mL threshold, depending on your metabolism. Be aware that creatinine levels are often tested, and will show that the sample has been diluted. Diluting your sample will also produce clear urine, with virtually no yellow color. They will assume that you've diluted your sample, and they may reject your sample on the basis of color alone.

It's only necessary to start drinking just before the test. Those who drown themselves in fluid days before a test are only causing unnecessary discomfort. Those who stay up all night drinking don't have any better chance than one who drinks heavily first thing in the morning. Get up early if the test is early, but don't lose sleep over a test that's given in the daytime.

Water

Drink at least eight hefty glasses of fluid (preferably water) just prior to the test. Many people start drinking water several days before the drug test; which is useless. Water does not clean any THC metabolites out of your system because THC is not water soluble. Water only dilutes urine temporarily. Do not over do it; you can get water intoxication. People can actually overdose and even die from water intoxication. It's very hard to do, and you'll vomit before anything gets serious.

Creatinine level

Eating red meat will boost creatinine levels. If you eat a lot of red meat for the 3 days prior to the drug test, your creatinine level will be normal, and the lab won't know that you've diluted your urine sample.

Vitamin B

Color your sample yellow by taking 50 to 100 milligrams of vitamin B. Many vitamins will work, but B-2 or B-12 (found in B-complex vitamins) are the most effective, though some will argue that vitamin C is better. This will also help if you plan to dope your sample. This does not guarantee that dilution will work. Diluted samples have been red-flagged when specific gravity and creatinine levels are tested and below normal. If you're taking vitamins at the last minute, check to see if they're time release. If so, crush it up and consume the powder. Coloring your urine isn't all that important because it's normal for people to have clear urine even when they don't consume much fluid.