Two new bills were just introduced in the Oregon House that will dramatically alter the rights of patients to be gainfully employed, taxpaying members of society, one good, one bad. Click here now to find your representative and tell them your feelings about these two bills!
House Bill 2497 – OPPOSE!
[The OMMA shall not] Require an employer to accommodate the medical use of marijuana in any workplace regardless of where the use occurs.
Sponsored by Rep. Schaufler, this bill essentially means that an employer can fire you or not hire you just because you have a medical marijuana card, even if you never use, possess, or are impaired at work. This is discrimination, plain and simple!
House Bill 2503 – SUPPORT!
It is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a person in hiring, termination… based on: (a) The status of the person as a registry identification cardholder; or (b) A positive drug test for marijuana if the person is a registry identification cardholder and the medical use of marijuana does not occur on the property or premises of the place of employment or during the hours of employment.
Sponsored by Rep. Buckley
via Oregon NORML | National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
Rep. Schaufler (D-Happy Valley) was behind similar efforts in 2007 with SB 465. He is being backed by Oregon business leaders who just can’t stand the idea that they could be sued if they fire patients for failing marijuana drug tests (Oregon’s case law is undecided on the issue). I testified at a hearing in front of Schaufler’s committee about this issue and Oregon NORML distributed flyers to all the committee members explaining how Schaufler’s actions were tantamount to writing discrimination into our laws.
In response, Schaufler said (paraphrasing from memory), “See that book of Oregon Revised Statutes? It’s an entire book full of discrimination. I can’t perform brain surgery, for example, or drive a big rig, the law discriminates against me for that!” Yes, because you haven’t the skill, training, or licensing. Nobody stops you from brain surgery or driving trucks because you have a prescription for Xanax, however.
Schaufler also said he wouldn’t want someone “driving a school bus full of your kids if they used medical marijuana.” As Madeline Martinez explained the situation that someone testing positive for THC-COOH wouldn’t necessarily be impaired, and that someone with a Vicodin prescription could drive those kids without any interference from the law (unless she wrecked and was later found to be impaired at the time), Schaufler replied, “I’d much rather have the school bus driver who drives my kids using Vicodin than medical marijuana.”
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I am strongly in support of passing this bill. It is out right discrimination to deny a job to someone because of the kind of medication they are on. If the person is capable of performing the job correctly and up to the standards of the employer than there should be no problem. I am currently a student and am attempting to become a Medical Assistant. In order to get into the program one must pass a drug screening. Being an OMMP patient this is a huge road block in continuing my education. What laws are out there to protect people like me? Support Oregon Bill OR HB2503!!!!
If anyone Has any information about obtaining a rights for medical marijuana while being on felony probation please let me know, I have actual medical reasons to have certification but have only recently been in a position to obtain such certification, please send any response you have to oniranaut@gmail.com please make the subject box something I would recognize as a response to this post, any help and information would be useful
Thanks to all, peace and love, blessed be,
~Guy~
I don’t think I would want my kids being driven around by a bus driver that is high on cannabis. If Mr. Schaufler is so concerned about his kid’s safety on the bus, I invite him to sponsor legislation to require seat belts on school buses and other public transportation. That would be helpful.
I would be less concerned about the bus driver using vicodin, as that drug does not cause the same level of cognitive alteration. This is what I’ve been told.
It might be possible for a person to become so familiar and comfortable with the effects of cannabis that he or she might be able to perform such complex tasks as well as, or better than, when in his or her unaltered state of mind. However, our society does not have in place the educational and testing facilities that would be necessary to qualify a person to perform such work under the influence of cannabis. If the person is unable to avoid intoxication during work hours (still speaking only about bus drivers here), then that person should seek other work. Driving a bus is a complex task during which unexpected events may occur. A bus load of kids is a big responsibility.
However, vicodin, unlike cannabis, is an addictive drug. Perhaps Mr. Schaufler, should consider that the driver could use vicodin during work hours, but after work could switch to cannabis. Use of the non-addictive cannabis might help avoid, or at lease delay, tolerance of and addiction to the vicodin medication. This seems like a better solution. I believe there are already laws in place that prohibit a person from driving a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants. These laws would certainly still apply for school bus drivers, including those with prescriptions for vicodin.
If a person is intoxicated on anything to a significant degree, they will probably stand out. It is the responsibility of management to keep an eye out for this, and to correct it when it occurs. HB 2503 offers no protection for omma patients who use cannabis during work hours. That should be sufficient to meet Mr. Schaufler’s concerns.
-ED