PROPOSITION 19 BAD FOR BUSINESS

Even if you believe that marijuana should be legalized for
recreational use in California, Proposition 19 is not an appropriate
mechanism to do that.

Here are a few reasons businesses and their employees should be
concerned about this poorly written proposition.

If passed, Proposition 19 creates a new class of "protected" workers,
those who consume marijuana recreationally. Without passage of
additional ordinances created by local governments, it would be legal
to smoke marijuana in the workplace. Employers would be prohibited
from disciplining or terminating an employee who is "high" at work
unless the employer can prove that the use actually impaired employee
job performance. What that really means is that a workplace accident
has already occurred.

Other than public safety employees, Proposition 19 would apply to
every private or public sector job, including forklift drivers, nurses
and school bus drivers, making it legal for any employee to work under
the influence of marijuana.

Supporters of Proposition 19 want you to believe that it creates a
mechanism for regulating and taxing marijuana. It does not. Again, any
regulations must be created locally, at local expense. Proposition 19
contains no provision for taxing marijuana on a statewide basis.

If passed, California businesses could no longer guarantee a drug-free
workplace as required by many federal contracts and grants,
jeopardizing the funding sources for many thousands of jobs across the
state.

The Chico Chamber of Commerce urges you to vote no on Proposition
19.

Jolene Francis, Chico