Pubdate: Mon, 09 Feb 2015
Source: Dayton Daily News (OH)
Copyright: 2015 Dayton Daily News
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/7JXk4H3l
Website: http://www.daytondailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/120
Author: Ronald H. Wean

LEGAL MARIJUANA WILL HURT JOBS

Legalizing pot in Ohio would have consequences. The first consequence 
is that it makes people unemployable: People submitting positive drug 
screens will not be hired and could be fired, because their coworkers 
have a right to a safe working environment. A safe environment is 
legally defined by federal law as a workplace that is drug free. 
Consequently, the employers who refuse to monitor safety and remove 
those employees impaired by the presence of drugs risk liability: the 
loss of their business, investment, reputation in the community, and 
possible criminal indictment.

The second consequence is that it makes this state unattractive to 
venture capital. If legalized, the investor question raised is: "If 
the pool of potential workers come from a population that justifies 
using a drug where people can test positive for weeks after using, 
why would I risk losing everything on those who care little about 
their own safety?"

Legalizing pot in Ohio, therefore, is not a moral issue: It's a jobs 
issue. Ohio's leadership has defied gravity to replace job losses and 
fight for an economic recovery. In the middle of this battle, now is 
not the time to tie the working hands of those struggling to create 
decent wages and opportunities for all Ohioans. To those potential 
employers, "We have legalized pot" is not a selling point for this state.

Ronald H. Wean

Beavercreek
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom