Title:
Bill that would have discriminated against Oregon medical marijuana patients in the workplace dies in committee
Message:
Now that Oregon's 74th legislative session is officially over, SB 465 has died in the House Elections, Ethics and Rules Committee.
This callous legislation would have allowed employers to discriminate against medical marijuana patients by allowing employers to fire patients for simply using their medicine as recommended by a doctor, with no regard given to whether the patient was actually impaired. Not only was this bill seriously inconsiderate of hardworking patients trying to make an honest living, it contradicted Oregon's law that allows seriously ill patients to use this medicine with a doctor's recommendation. To allow patients access to medicine they need on one hand but deny them the opportunity for gainful employment on the other is bad policy and makes no sense.
Although Oregon's seriously ill patients who are able to continue working will not be subjected to such a nonsensical and unjust law this year, some legislators may continue to push similar legislation next session. Additionally, there is always the possibility that a special session could be called and SB 465 revisited at that time. Please send your legislators a note today asking them to be on the lookout for, and oppose, these types of bills in the future.
If you would rather speak directly with your legislators about this issue, click here to locate their phone numbers and give them a call. If you get the opportunity to talk to your legislators or their staff, please let them know that you oppose making it harder for medical marijuana patients to hold down a job, which is exactly what SB 465 would do. If you are directed to voicemail, please leave a short message stating your name, address, and that you hope they will protect patients' right to work in the future.
Remember, Oregon Revised Statute 659.840 requires employers to have reasonable grounds before administering a Breathalyzer test to an employee they think is under the influence of alcohol. SB 465 would have actually allowed an employer to make an employee take a drug test with less evidence of wrongdoing than is required for the same employer to test the same employee for alcohol. If SB 465 passed, alcoholics would have been given more protection than medical marijuana patients in the workplace!
This bill was opposed by many organizations in Oregon, as well as patients and local activists who worked very hard to make sure this bill did not become law. Special thanks are due to Rep. Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland) and Rep. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), who stood up for patient's rights until the very end. Please give Rep. Buckley a call at (541) 488-9180 and Rep. Rosenbaum a call at (503) 231-9970 and make sure they know that you appreciate their efforts to protect Oregon's sick and dying.
Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. If you have any questions concerning the status of marijuana reform in Oregon, you can contact MPP legislative analyst Nathan Miller at (202) 462-5747, ext. 118, or at Nathan@mpp.org.
