Pubdate: Fri, 26 Jun 2015
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2015 The New York Times Company
Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/lettertoeditor.html
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Joy Haviland
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n327/a02.html

EMPLOYERS' POLICIES ON MARIJUANA

To the Editor:

Re "Workers Can Be Fired for Legal Marijuana, Colorado Court Rules" 
(news article, June 16): The decision of the Colorado Supreme Court 
shines a light on the legal uncertainties that remain as electorates 
across the country permit the use of medical marijuana. The painful 
choice that the plaintiff, Brandon Coats, now must make - between 
treating his debilitating symptoms with medical marijuana or earning 
a living - demands reform from lawmakers.

State lawmakers can do that by passing a law that would balance the 
interests of both patients and employers. Such reform might prohibit 
harmful zero tolerance drug testing policies that do not consider 
whether the employee was actually impaired by marijuana or used it 
during the hours of employment. That's the way it is in states like 
Minnesota and Arizona.

Federal legislation that allows states to set their own medical 
marijuana policies, such as the bipartisan Compassionate Access, 
Research Expansion and Respect States Act, can also protect patients 
who are able to work. The Colorado Supreme Court implied as much in 
its decision. I hope that lawmakers will heed the court's decision as 
a call to action.

JOY HAVILAND

Berkeley, Calif.

The writer is a staff attorney at the Drug Policy Alliance.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom