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