Oregon Watchdog: Hanna urges bill prohibiting marijuana use in workplace

HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER BRUCE HANNA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2009
CONTACT: Nick Smith, 503-986-1351

REP. HANNA URGES PASSAGE OF BIPARTISAN BILL PROHIBITING MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE IN THE WORKPLACE
HB 3052 Clarifies State Medical Marijuana Laws

SALEM'o House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg) today 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.

`iDrug and alcohol abuse is the one of the leading causes of injury and death in the workplace, nationally and in Oregon,^i said Rep. Hanna, a small business owner and employer. `iOregon'is 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.^i

HB 3052 clarifies Oregon'is 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'is ability to establish or enforce policies to achieve or maintain a drug-free workplace.

`iThis legislation is needed to protect our state'is workers and consumers,^i 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.^i

Rep. Hanna added, `iwith passage of HB 3052, employers will finally have the tool they need to maintain a safe workplace.^i

HB 3052 was heard today in the House Business and Labor Committee.
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