Should a person be allowed to consume marijuana while they are “off the clock,” so to speak? This is the question that has been rattling in the heads of the cannabis community pretty much since this entire ordeal kickstarted in the United States. After all, marijuana alters your mind and makes you sleepy. So why should a person be permitted to smoke or eat it if they are a professional? In short, the Oregon government is taking the extra steps to crack down on this ordeal by permitting more freedom to workers who have flunked drug tests due to the presence of weed in their blood (the result of smoking or consuming it off-duty). So what new rules will be set up for the Beaver State? Let’s take a closer look and find out the facts.
Providing Protection to the Workforce
As part of the new guidelines, Oregon lawmakers are proposing to making the action of firing employees for marijuana use (off-duty) to be illegal, marking a revival of a proposal that entered the statehouse in 2017. According to the Statesman Journal, this new bill (if passed) will also grant rights to job seekers who use marijuana in Oregon, a pot-legal state. Ultimately, this decision stems from the complex question of whether employee should be allowed to use this drug off-duty. Although marijuana is 100% legal in the State of Oregon, it is also 100% illegal at the federal level (making the situation much more needlessly complicated).
Refurbishing a Past Proposal
Back in 2017, Senate Bill 301 (which attempted to protect marijuana cardholders from discrimination if they tested positive for the drug) failed to pass, and this latest proposal could be considered a refurbished form of 301. If passed, this new law will still not allow employees to smoke weed or eat infused products if collective bargaining agreements (from the workplace) completely ban this practice. However, the proposal will allow exceptions for factors that include labor agreements, on-the-job impairment, and the establishment of “drug free” workplaces.
Always remember that drugs do not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug abuse or addiction troubles today.
