Pubdate: Thu, 19 Mar 2009
Source: Bend Weekly (OR)
Copyright: 2009 Bend Weekly News
Contact:  http://www.bendweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4514
Author: Bend Weekly News Sources

PROPOSED BILL WOULD PROHIBIT USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN WORKPLACE

HB 3052 Clarifies State Medical Marijuana Laws

SALEM, Ore. ­ House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg) on 
Wednesday testified in support of HB 3052, a bipartisan bill he 
co-sponsored to promote drug-free workplaces in Oregon. If passed 
into law, HB 3052 would allow employers to prohibit the use of 
medical marijuana at Oregon work sites.

"Drug and alcohol abuse is the one of the leading causes of injury 
and death in the workplace, nationally and in Oregon," said Rep. 
Hanna, a small business owner and employer. "Oregon's drug test 
failure rate is 50 percent higher than the national rate, and a large 
majority of Oregon employers say that on-the-job substance abuse is a 
significant concern to their business."

HB 3052 clarifies Oregon's medical marijuana laws to enable employers 
and independent contractors to prohibit their employees from 
consuming or possessing marijuana during working hours. Further, the 
bill stipulates that state medical marijuana laws do not preclude or 
restrict an employer's ability to establish or enforce policies to 
achieve or maintain a drug-free workplace.

"This legislation is needed to protect our state's workers and 
consumers," Rep. Hanna said. "Currently, employers have no way to 
measure impairment from medical marijuana, where unlike prescription 
drugs, quantities and dosage are unknown and no physician oversight 
exists after the medical marijuana card is issued."

Rep. Hanna added, "With passage of HB 3052, employers will finally 
have the tool they need to maintain a safe workplace."

HB 3052 was heard Wednesday in the House Business and Labor Committee.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart