WOMAN SHOULD BE REHIRED IF CLEARED, PANEL SAYS

HILLSBORO -- Alicia Williamson can't return to her computer job with
Washington County.

But the county's five-member Civil Service Commission ruled Friday
that Williamson, a medical-marijuana user, should be rehired if she is
cleared of felony drug charges later this year.

"Ms. Williamson showed poor judgment and was lackadaisical about
something important," said Diane Marra Williams, one of two
commissioners who voted against the firing. She added that Williamson,
who was a management analyst for the county's information technology
services, should have applied for Oregon's medical marijuana program
when it started in 2001.

A grand jury indicted Williamson, 47, in December of felony drug
charges for using, growing and distributing marijuana after police
found 13 marijuana plants, shake and seeds in her Gaston home last
summer. A criminal trial is set for December.

County officials said Williamson was fired in February for being a
discredit to the county by committing illegal acts and lying about
whether she shared the marijuana.

Williamson, who was hired in 1998, was the first to tell her boss when
she heard police searched her home after spotting her plants in a
flyover. The fact that county officials knew about the search in
August but didn't put Williamson on paid leave until December troubled
commissioners.

"If it's not a discredit for four months, then it's not a 'discredit'
enough for her to lose her position," Williams said.

Commissioners scolded the county for lacking efficiency and suggested
that drug tests be required for all new employees. Currently, 20
percent of county employees -- criminal justice workers and those who
need commercial driver's licenses -- are tested or given background
checks.

"About 90 percent of businesses, public and private, use drug tests,"
said Commissioner Gary Krahmer, who voted for Williamson's
termination. "The county is remiss not to."

Injured while riding horses competitively, Williamson has used
marijuana since she was 19 to ease migraines and muscle spasms. She
has a doctor's prescription and qualified for the California medical
marijuana program in 1995.

Williamson said she genetically modifies her marijuana, striving for
plants that provide more muscle relaxation than space-out high. She
shared the drug with chemotherapy patients and her boyfriend,
Williamson said, but never sold or traded it.

After the police search, Williamson enrolled in the $150 Oregon
Medical Marijuana program. The program allows members to own three
mature marijuana plants, four immature plants and an ounce of usable
marijuana from each mature plant.

"I wish now that I had filled out that paperwork sooner," said
Williamson, adding that she would still enjoy working for the county.
"I don't have any malice toward anyone. But I do feel that the cops
have worked really hard to make me look like a big criminal."