[ASA Field]

ASA Victory for Patients’ Employment Rights
California Assembly Votes to Protect Medical Marijuana Patients' Right to
Work

Dear ASA Supporter,

Yesterday, the California Assembly voted to approve legislation sponsored by Americans for Safe Access (ASA) that will protect medical cannabis patients from discrimination in the workplace! Thanks to a groundswell of grassroots support from thousands of ASA members and allies, Assemblymember Mark Leno’s AB 2279 is now on its way to the California Senate and then to the Governor’s desk. This is a tremendous step forward in ASA’s continuing work to defend and expand the rights of medical cannabis patients in California.

Please take a moment right now to support ASA’s strategic and effective work in Sacramento!

Assemblymember Leno introduced AB 2279 after the California Supreme Court ruled that medical cannabis patients could be fired – even if they were not using or impaired by cannabis in the workplace! This outrageous ruling placed more than 200,000 legal patients in jeopardy. Fortunately, ASA and Assemblymember Leno were prepared in advance and ready to act.

Since the bill was introduced, ASA staff has been actively working to educate lawmakers and rally grassroots support. ASA visited the offices of every key committee member prior to the vote, identified strategic “must win” districts, and mounted an effective email and call in campaign in the days leading up to the vote.

ASA also worked diligently to secure key endorsements needed to overcome opposition to the bill. Influential labor groups, like the Service Workers International Union (SEIU) and the Americans Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), who represent over one million California workers, support AB 2279. ASA also helped secure endorsements from local Chambers of Commerce and HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations.

We have crossed a milestone in the effort to protect patients’ rights, but we need your help to secure the Senate vote and the Governor’s signature. You can be sure ASA is there for the entire fight by donating $100 today to support our work.

Thank you for your support and commitment to defending patients’ rights in California!

Sincerely,

Don Duncan
California Director
Americans for Safe Access

P.S. For more information about ASA's employment rights bill, please visit http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/AB2279

Americans for Safe Access is the nation's largest organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

You guys are awesome

[flylightly]

This is why I toss my money in the ASA donation jar everytime im at the club. Thank you all so much for your hard work. I want to bust into tears right now this is a huge step towards better health, less reefer madness, and a better understanding of who we are. This is a big step not only for MMJ rights, but patients rights. The ASA rocks. Id give you rep but I cant cause Ive already given you tons so I got to wait. But id give you 103049239025809234804834 rep points if I could. THANK YOU!!!!!!

[Sir smokes-A-Lot]

Wow this is great news. Does this also mean if Im applying for a job and Im a Ca MMJ patient and they drug test me with marijuana in my system they will still hire me? Is it the same for staffing agencies?

Originally Posted by Sir smokes-A-Lot

Wow this is great news. Does this also mean if Im applying for a job and Im a Ca MMJ patient and they drug test me with marijuana in my system they will still hire me? Is it the same for staffing agencies?

If it passes...

WHAT AB 2279 DOES:

· Preserves the rights of employers to take action
against employees that come to work impaired or
consume medical marijuana at the workplace.
· Prevents an employer from discriminating
against a legal medical marijuana patient in hiring,
termination, or any term of employment based on
his or her status as a patient or based on a positive
test for medical marijuana use that occurred during
non-working hours outside the workplace.
· Enables a legal patient who is the victim of
employment discrimination to file a civil action in
state court.
· Preserves the right of employers to take any
necessary precautionary measures in the terms
of employment for any legally qualified patient
working in a safety-sensitive position.

WHAT IT DOESN'T DO:

· The bill will not require employers to
accommodate smoking marijuana in the workplace
or during working hours under any circumstances.
· The bill does not require employers to hire or
continue to employ medical marijuana patients that
work in safety-sensitive positions.
· The bill does not expose employers to any criminal
liability or violate federal drug-free workplace laws.
· The bill does not force an employer to violate any
state or federal law.

[Sir smokes-A-Lot]

Awesome! Thanks for the info and I get it now.

[yamita]

Originally Posted by ASA Field

ASA Victory for Patients’ Employment Rights
California Assembly Votes to Protect Medical Marijuana Patients' Right to
Work

Dear ASA Supporter,

Yesterday, the California Assembly voted to approve legislation sponsored by Americans for Safe Access (ASA) that will protect medical cannabis patients from discrimination in the workplace! Thanks to a groundswell of grassroots support from thousands of ASA members and allies, Assemblymember Mark Leno’s AB 2279 is now on its way to the California Senate and then to the Governor’s desk. This is a tremendous step forward in ASA’s continuing work to defend and expand the rights of medical cannabis patients in California.

Please take a moment right now to support ASA’s strategic and effective work in Sacramento!

Assemblymember Leno introduced AB 2279 after the California Supreme Court ruled that medical cannabis patients could be fired – even if they were not using or impaired by cannabis in the workplace! This outrageous ruling placed more than 200,000 legal patients in jeopardy. Fortunately, ASA and Assemblymember Leno were prepared in advance and ready to act.

Since the bill was introduced, ASA staff has been actively working to educate lawmakers and rally grassroots support. ASA visited the offices of every key committee member prior to the vote, identified strategic “must win” districts, and mounted an effective email and call in campaign in the days leading up to the vote.

ASA also worked diligently to secure key endorsements needed to overcome opposition to the bill. Influential labor groups, like the Service Workers International Union (SEIU) and the Americans Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), who represent over one million California workers, support AB 2279. ASA also helped secure endorsements from local Chambers of Commerce and HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations.

We have crossed a milestone in the effort to protect patients’ rights, but we need your help to secure the Senate vote and the Governor’s signature. You can be sure ASA is there for the entire fight by donating $100 today to support our work.

Thank you for your support and commitment to defending patients’ rights in California!

Sincerely,

Don Duncan
California Director
Americans for Safe Access

P.S. For more information about ASA's employment rights bill, please visit http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/AB2279

Americans for Safe Access is the nation's largest organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

This ladies and gentleman is why EVERYONE who is a mmj patient should be supporting ASA.......and make no mistake... Don Duncan was the main energy behind this action......and for all his hard work ..SUCCESS is his reward!!
Blessing to all the wonderful hard working compasionate souls who work for ASA that are making our lives better!

Pura Vida.......

Peace and Love to all

[FARMER]

Originally Posted by yamita

This ladies and gentleman is why EVERYONE who is a mmj patient should be supporting ASA.......and make no mistake... Don Duncan was the main energy behind this action......and for all his hard work ..SUCCESS is his reward!!
Blessing to all the wonderful hard working compasionate souls who work for ASA that are making our lives better!

Pura Vida.......

Peace and Love to all

Hear, hear. You speak the truth, Yami. Don and all the others at ASA offices on the west and east coast really should feel proud. And ASA members like you, Yami. Out on the lines, protesteting, getting in the face of the DEA. Letting them know it's no longer okay. Enough is enough!

I can't donate the entire $100 right now but I just mailed a thirty five dollar membership for Cinder. I'm gonna stick the lapel pin on his collar. Have a feeling everyone in the family's getting ASA memberships for Christmas!! How many shopping days? Who cares? Thanks ASA! You rock my world!!!

[Mr_Hybrid]

Great news!...I just joined up
Everyone in the MMJ community is very lucky to have organizations like the ASA!

It gives me hope even after reading bull like this:
http://www.mediacampaign.org/newsroo...j_mhealth.html

[ASA Field]

Thanks for all your support - all of you are the reason we continue to do what we do day after day.

[waysofmylife]

<3 :slaugh:

[SubUrban Cowboy]

This really is great news. I am so excited to hear this passed. I do, have to say though, there are plenty of MMJ patients that must medicate durring the day though. This unfortunatley will not protect a good amount of them. I would love to see that part of this issue addressed as well. Keep up the good work ASA.

[Dr.Seuscio]

Horay for the ASA Three cheers


One question can someone clarify Safety-sensitive would the fry machine pose enough safety hazard or lawn mower, xerox, delivery vehicle or does it have to be industrial machinery.

ONE -Dr.Seuscio

Thank You ASA

[Justonevoice]

Hell of a job ASA/Don D. Thank You for all of your work.

[ASA Field]

Originally Posted by Dr.Seuscio

One question can someone clarify Safety-sensitive would the fry machine pose enough safety hazard or lawn mower, xerox, delivery vehicle or does it have to be industrial machinery.

Operating any type of vehicle would put you in a safety sensitive position. Law mowers and xerox machines would not.

[Thraxz]

Thank you ASA, keep up the good work, I will do my part in writing my State Reps, and Local officials.. I am proud to be an American in this day and age.. Times are changing, Hopefully for the better.. I never thought in my life I would see Legal MMj, We have come a long way since the 60s and 70s..

[thenmurphsaid]

so does that mean were protected or something else????

[ASA Field]

Not yet. We have a Senate Committee hearing on the 24th, then we have to pass the Senate Floor, and then the Governor has to sign the bill. So we have a ways to go.

[O.C. Remedy Group]

Its really good news. I dont think anyone should lose there job for being a patient! Good job indeed

[ASA Field]

We still need supporters to take action to help pass this bill. Please see our alert for more info: http://www.weedtracker.com/forums/sh...950#post575950

[cutie77]

My externship site has offer me a position at their company, but I do I let them know regarding my Medical Marijunia prescirption if there is a way to approach it please let me know and let me know even if you know some one who can help. Hope to hear from you soon. Much Love and Peace:001_wub: from cuite77 hope to hear from you soon, Thank You