Many employers, including state and federal governments, require a drug test before an employee can be hired -- and some even require random drug testing after a person is hired and goes to work. And some states have even required those receiving help from government social service organizations to be drug-tested. In fact, I would submit that most Americans have been required to take a drug test for one reason or another.
But there is one group that has always been exempt from drug-testing -- the members of the United States Congress. But the American public thinks that should change. A whopping 78% of Americans (nearly 4 out of every 5 people) think members of Congress should have to submit to random drug testing. And that view holds regardless of gender, race, age, income level, or political persuasion.
Personally, I don't think anyone should be drug-tested -- unless they hold a position where drug use could put others in danger, or their is evidence that drug use may be affecting their job performance. Drug use, especially marijuana use, that is done off-duty and at home should not be either an employer or the government's concern.
However, as long as the federal government requires drug-testing of anyone (employee, prospective employee, or social service recipient), then it should also be required of our elected officials. It makes no sense for them to be exempt of things they require of others.
The chart above was made from a Huffington Post / YouGov Poll -- done between November 25th and 27th of last year of a random national sample of 1,000 adults (with a 5.2 point margin of error).
