SonicFlyer

Marijuana is not dangerous or harmful to any significant degree, if it was tens of millions of people would be dead. Obviously no one should behave irresponsibly with it (or any other substance) but denying a medical cert because someone has used it is the height of absurdity.

rickair7777

Welcome to aviation. Or the military, or law enforcement. I have no issues with a little ganga, as long as it's far away from aviation.

Remember that MJ is NOT legal at all per the Fed. So using it, even in a state which has "legalized" it, still shows a disregard for federal law...which aviation also falls under.

SonicFlyer

Which is ironic because federal drug laws show a disregard for the Constitution since they are not actually legal.

rickair7777

Be sure and explain that to your AME

JohnBurke

Tell you what. Go toke up and then go do some precision flying. Not an ILS. Go fly back and forth under powerlines for a while, where inches count. See if you hit one. Then tell me if it's harmful.

Whether it's harmful is irrelevant, though clearly an impaired pilot is harmful regardless of whether it's lack of sleep, alcohol, marajuana, or something else. What is relevant is that it's not legal, and that the regulation stipulates that substance abuse is a disqualifying condition when occurring within a two year period...which is the subject of this thread.

SonicFlyer

You must have a reading comprehension problem because nowhere did I write that people should drive/fly while under the influence

Use =| abuse

JohnBurke

Roll your eyes at someone else.

You stated that marajuana is not harmful. More to the point, you specifically stated that marajuana is not dangerous or harmful. You stated this incorrectly and painted with far too broad a brush.

You attempted to state that marajuana use does not equate abuse. Clearly you've not read the regulation, though it's been given you. Try again.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-id...se14.2.67_1107

We work in a field in which judgement is everything. The use of marajuana by a pilot is very poor judgement, if for no other reason than its prohibition by law, policy, and regulation.

There is not presently a means of determining, other than operationally and by visual observation, the degree of impairment by marajuana (unlike alcohol).


Note that the regulation defines "substance" as:

i) “Substance” includes: Alcohol; other sedatives and hypnotics; anxiolytics; opioids; central nervous system stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines, and similarly acting sympathomimetics; hallucinogens; phencyclidine or similarly acting arylcyclohexylamines; cannabis; inhalants; and other psychoactive drugs and chemicals;

As for the constitutionality of marajuana use, perhaps you'd care to tilt at that windmill, but you're still held accountable to both the law, and the regulation.

You have no constitutional guarantee to be a pot head, and certainly no such right to be a career pilot and a pothead.

You may have to choose between the two. Imagine that.

Hetman

JB is correct; one or the other, but not both.

Shooting from the hip, here: It is going to cause a delay, but probably not much more. After the two years (from the date reported as the last use) reapply for the medical and check the "no" box. Truthfully, of course.

You will have to check "yes" at every application forever for the "have you had a medical denied?" box, with explanation, but after the first time doing that the explanation will be PRNC. That should be the end of it.

Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment.

METO Guido

Seem pretty sharp for your years, betting you'll find the right answer. Useful post. Caution area in this for many others.

SonicFlyer

Just because the government decrees something doesn't actually make it true.

The government could define the sky as being purple, but again, that wouldn't make it true.




That is the only reason not to use it, because it is illegal. And the law that makes it illegal is illegal in and of itself (Constitution doesn't grant the feds power over substances or medical issues).

There is very little medical difference between alcohol and marijuana. In fact it is generally understood that marijuana is indeed healthier to use than alcohol over the long term.


This is actually very true. Colorado has had some problems with this issue. In fact marijuana does not metabolize in everyone at the same rate. Some people have different rates of metaobilization.


Actually the 9th and 10th Amendments allow one to do whatever drugs they want (unless prohibited by state law).

Being addicted to any substance or dependent upon any substance of course should be a no-go. But casual use of substances, if done in a responsible manner, should be no problem.

I think your one of those guys who were ok with prohibition of alcohol