PROGRESS ON MED-POT BILL CHEERS PATIENTS

State Assembly passage of a right-to-work bill is cause for rejoicing
among area medical-marijuana patients.

Clients, volunteers and officials at Medical Marijuana Caregivers
Association of El Dorado County applaud the passage May 28 of Assembly
Bill 2279, introduced in February by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San
Francisco, said Elaine Roller, volunteer.

Following a state Supreme Court ruling Jan. 24, an employer currently
can fire anyone whom they know is a med-pot patient. The Leno bill
would override that ruling to reflect what he and others say is the
intent of voters' legalizing medical cannabis with Prop. 215. To
become law, AB 2279 must pass a State Senate vote and gain a signature
from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"Patients have a right to work," Roller said.

The bill excepts workplaces where people do safety-sensitive
jobs.

Even so, Leno said, the bill "is not about being under the influence
at work."

Matt Vaughn, director of Medical Marijuana Caregivers Association of
El Dorado County, said it was no surprise the Leno bill passed the
State Assembly.

"It's a natural progression of due process," Vaughn said. "This was
something voted on by the people. I can understand the (exception),
but not everyone has that kind of job."

Roller said she sees clients whose severe pain once had them on the
controversial prescription narcotic Oxycontin.

"The difference is the joy in their lives when they do not have to
rely on heavy medication," Roller said.

The state Supreme Court ruled against plaintiff Gary Ross, formerly of
Carmichael, who in 2001 was fired from his job for testing positive
for marijuana. He is a disabled war veteran and med-pot patient, who
described himself as a "productive worker" for a telecommunications
firm.

"The voters who supported Prop. 215 did not intend for
medical-marijuana patients to be forced into unemployment in order to
benefit from their medicine," Leno said.