Arguments draw line: criminals vs. patients

The Oregonian

Sunday, February 10, 2008 

Your editorial calling on legislators to reject a reasonable compromise and pass a bill that would allow any employer to fire any medical marijuana patient is misguided.

You cite the fact that 16,000 patients are registered in the medical marijuana program as evidence of abuse. Anti-marijuana forces hoped there would be few patients benefiting from medical marijuana because they don't want to admit that marijuana has a positive side. The reality is that marijuana has proved to be a safer, more effective medicine than many pharmaceutical alternatives. That is why more than 2,600 Oregon doctors have recommended marijuana for their patients.

Additionally, many carefully controlled scientific studies conducted since Oregon voters passed the medical marijuana law have confirmed what the doctors and patients know from experience. Marijuana is safe and effective for some patients when used properly. Marijuana relieves suffering.

Your call to fire medical marijuana patients won't make our workplaces safer. The business interests that want to fire patients have admitted that they can't cite a single example of a workplace accident caused by a medical marijuana patient. Focusing on marijuana and ignoring the risks from workers who are impaired from alcohol, prescription drugs or just plain fatigue is whitewashing the real problem.

What we really need in the workplace is impairment testing. This would help employers identify workers who are dangerous to themselves or others regardless of the reason.

JOHN SAJO

Director, Voter Power Southeast Portland

John Sajo was named LTE Writer of the Week by the Media Awareness Project (MAP) for this letter to the editor of The Oregonian.  The Media Awareness Project is a worldwide network dedicated to drug policy reform, working to inform public opinion and promote balanced media coverage.  

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n158/a01.html