AKpilot,

I don’t know what surgery had, but I had a crushed vertebrae, which at the time felt like someone was trying to rip it out of my spine. Operated on two days, off the morphine in 36 hours and oral pain meds in 72 hours. Suck it up.

GF

Some people can do that (I can, and have, and vastly prefer a little pain to being doped up with fun side effects). But some people can't.

The FAA cab and does ban you from using anything they want when off duty. Next time you get your medical done toss a few of their banned drugs on the form and see how they respond.

It took the FAA roughly 8 years to allow passengers to turn their cell phones on in airplane mode. When the latest Southwest incident happened, the FAA said they would issue an inspection order within two weeks. I don’t really expect them or any other government organization to do anything revolutionary in a timely manner. By timely manner, I mean ever.

Exactly right. And this is why I'm not worried about single pilot, remotely operated or autonomous airliners.

I was talking about a hypothetical situation where the DOT does allow for pilots to use marijuana products (something that I don't see happening for a very long time). Rickair then said that even if the DOT allows it, a company could prohibit its use. I am saying that they couldn't dictate how you live your life on your days off. They can limit what you say online sure, but that is because they can claim it damages the reputation of the company. That would be like a company saying you can't drink even on your days off.

Companies can legally fire you for smoking (tobacco) off the job. (depending on state law and your employment contract) So your premise is incorrect.

If you get into trouble with alcohol in the FAA (at least with safety sensitive positions), then abstinence for drinking again is absolutely something the FAA itself will prohibit if you wish to continued to be employed by the agency.

If you get into trouble with alcohol in the FAA (at least with safety sensitive positions), then abstinence for drinking again is absolutely something the FAA itself will prohibit if you wish to continued to be employed by the agency.

Where does it say they can't do that? Nowhere.

Most airlines ban you from drinking at arbitrary times, very few default to the law (ie 8 hours). Where does it say that's legal? Nowhere. But it's still legal.

Just because it offends your sensibilities doesn't mean it's actually illegal. I Got Rights!

Few companies ban smoking, and fewer still alcohol use because in most places it would limit their applicant pool, and annoy many potential customers and employees just over the principle of the thing.

An airline which banned MJ on the other hand would not annoy too many potential employees or customers. In fact, probably quite the opposite.

Now with all that said, some countries ban employee drug testing, and I think some US states ban random post-employment drug testing (ie they can test you once at time of hire. But that's just testing. Employers could still legally ban drug use, they just can't test for it (except as required by the Fed, ie DOT).