Pubdate: Sat, 25 Jul 2015 Source: Register-Guard, The (OR) Copyright: 2015 The Register-Guard Contact: http://www.registerguard.com/web/opinion/#contribute-a-letter Website: http://www.registerguard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362 POT CAN GET YOU FIRED Employers Can Enforce Zero-Tolerance Policies Marijuana has been legal in Oregon for nearly a month now, so Cyd Maurer's cautionary tale is well-timed. The morning weekend news anchor on KEZI-TV in Eugene was fired after a routine drug screen detected marijuana in her system. Maurer is now complaining of a double standard, and she has a point - but the law is entirely on the side of the station's managers and any other employers who wish to require being drug-free a condition of employment. Maurer would have a slightly better argument if she had waited until July 1 to have a minor collision on Coburg Road while on assignment. But her accident occurred on May 22, when pot was still illegal except for medical purposes. KEZI's company policy requires a drug test after such incidents. Maurer was fired on May 27 after the test came back positive for marijuana. Maurer told The Register-Guard's Christian Hill that she uses marijuana occasionally, but never went to work stoned. She said it's irrational and unfair to punish pot use that does not affect job performance, while drinking alcohol - in many ways a more dangerous drug - brings no commensurate penalty. Marijuana users are at a double disadvantage, because compounds in pot metabolize slowly and can be detected by tests weeks later. But Measure 91, the pot legalization initiative approved by voters last November, specifically states that laws relating to employment are unaffected. Employers have the same rights as before to require a drug-free workplace and enforce their policy with drug tests. Some employers may be swayed to modify their policies by arguments such as Maurer's, but it's entirely up to them. In the meantime, Oregonians should be advised: A little pot won't get you busted, but it can still get you fired. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom