Pubdate: Wed, 12 Aug 2015
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2015 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Noelle Crombie

OREGON TV REPORTER FIRED FOR MARIJUANA USE SAID SHE'S BEEN 
OVERWHELMED BY POSITIVE RESPONSES

Eugene TV Anchor Fired for Pot, Is Now an Activist for It

Cyd Maurer said she's been flooded with positive messages from 
readers since disclosing she'd been fired from her TV journalism job 
after testing positive for marijuana use.

"Hundreds of people have reached out to me," said Maurer, 25. "So 
many people have reached out and thanked me, it's been mind-blowing."

Maurer, a University of Oregon graduate and morning weekend anchor 
for Eugene's ABC affiliate, said she was fired in May after testing 
positive for marijuana.

Maurer said she got into a minor fender-bender while on assignment 
for KEZI on May 22 and was ordered, per corporate policy, to undergo 
a drug test. Maurer said she disclosed her recreational cannabis use 
to her immediate supervisor, an assistant news director.

She said she had consumed cannabis within one week of the accident 
but was not under the influence when she went to work. She said she 
was fired when the test came back positive for marijuana.

Maurer, who lives in Eugene and remains out of work, said she's met 
with a handful of prospective employers in Oregon's marijuana 
industry in the past couple of weeks. For now, she's writing for 
Marijuana Politics, a news, politics and culture site operated by 
Anthony Johnson, the chief petitioner of Measure 91.

She said she's especially interested in work that focuses on 
employment policies related to marijuana use.

"The important thing to focus on is that this dialogue is happening 
and that is what I wanted," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom