Ok, this is dumb, right? re:pot

[phunluvin82]

I have been interested in the enactment of the new pot legalization laws and what is going to happen with all that in CO & WA...

The part of this article that made me go ^o) was this:

"Twenty Colorado business groups have appealed to Holder to enforce federal pot laws, because of questions about how to deal with workers who are high.

"There is uncertainty about our ability to terminate employees if they come to the job impaired," said Sandra Hagen Solin of the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance. "There are obligations that we have under the drug-free workplace. There are a lot of questions that have arisen."

That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Just because alcohol is legal doesn't mean you can go to work drunk. And you can fire someone if they come to work drunk right? So why would it be any different if they are high? Am I missing something?

Other than that, the rest of the article was interesting...

www.cnn.com/2012/12/05/us/washington-marijuana-legalization/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

[Deleted]

Yes dumb and probably just an excuse to try to get the feds involved.

[Deleted]

It actually can be different since people get bullshit "medical" excuses for marijuana. So people could claim they are disabled and need workplace accommodations.

[phunluvin82]

Dec 6, 2012 13:32:26 GMT -5 @spenjamins said:

It actually can be different since people get bullshit "medical" excuses for marijuana. So people could claim they are disabled and need workplace accommodations.

I totally did not think of this.

So, hypothetically, no showing up to work high...unless you have a medical marijuana card? And then what? They have to allow it?

Except CO already allowed medical marijuana before this right? So what is the current protocol for that in CO...and in CA and other states that allow medical marijuana I wonder? Theoretically, this should have already come up as an issue before the legalization vote right?

[phunluvin82]

Dec 6, 2012 13:46:13 GMT -5 Mrs.flang said:

I would compare it more to abusing prescription pain pills or something rather than being drunk.

Still, I think it's silly.

True. If it is legal and legally prescribed to some people for medicinal purposes, then it doesn't seem like it would be much different than dealing with Rx painkillers.

Some Rx painkillers can get you pretty zonked out...so what does an employer do if an employee comes to work 'impaired' on oxy or something? (NOT saying someone who is taking oxy or whatever is necessarily impaired...just that some people do abuse it, so what is the workplace policy for that, and wouldn't it arguably be the same for medicinal marijuana?)

So, basically, I'm thinking their argument still doesn't hold water.

[Deleted]

Dec 6, 2012 13:32:26 GMT -5 @spenjamins said:

It actually can be different since people get bullshit "medical" excuses for marijuana. So people could claim they are disabled and need workplace accommodations.

How common of a problem is this in medical marijuana states though? I don't know that I buy that it will be a much larger problem in CO and WA than it currently is in states that allow medicinal 420.

[Deleted]

Dec 6, 2012 13:46:13 GMT -5 Mrs.flang said:

I would compare it more to abusing prescription pain pills or something rather than being drunk.

Still, I think it's silly.

Also this. People who are going to come to work high on whatever are going to come to work high. People who smoke recreationally and responsibly are going to continue to do so.

I would be surprised if a lot more people smoke now in CO and WA just because it's legal. I'd bet money that it's basically the same people smoking but just not needing to keep it under wraps quite as much. I could be wrong though.

[aurora]

Dec 6, 2012 15:59:56 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

Dec 6, 2012 13:32:26 GMT -5 @spenjamins said:

It actually can be different since people get bullshit "medical" excuses for marijuana. So people could claim they are disabled and need workplace accommodations.

How common of a problem is this in medical marijuana states though? I don't know that I buy that it will be a much larger problem in CO and WA than it currently is in states that allow medicinal 420.

Yes - wouldn't the medical problem already exist in the many states that allow medical marijuana?

I'm by no means an expert, but isn't there also a difference in being able to quantify impairment? As in, there's an easier test for quantifying alcohol impairment than MJ impairment?