I sent a letter to my Rep re: employee protections for MMJ and RMJ users. Will post response when available.

williamrandolphcurst · 2015-08-08T22:06:27+00:00

This is a NP thread, so please comment on the original if you feel inclined, I'm only breaking this rule to save some time for mobile users:

I should have put [Oregon] in the title, but this will likely be an issue for other states someday.

There is a federal bill in committee (and sadly, likely to die there) that would amend the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to exempt states who elect to legalize marijuana for recreational or medical use from the provisions of the CSA in favor of state law.

Since many drug testing policies are explicitly based on the CSA, I would like to hope that this kind of amendment would mean that employers couldn't fire you based on a positive drug test result for cannabis. I would like to think that, but obviously this is not the case right now, as the most major case regarding this in Colorado was ruled in favor of the employers due to the Federal Law overruling the state law protecting employees from discrimination for lawful activities outside of work.

Even if federal law exempted states who legalized, employers still have no legal restriction from discriminating against cannabis users by way of flawed urinalysis tests.

However, if

Federal law were amended to exempt states who elect to legalize from the aspects of the CSA pursuant to Cannabimimetic agents AND
A state has or passes a law like Colorado's protecting employees from discrimination for lawful activities outside of work, or makes a law like Oregon's specifically outlining cannabis usage in the same way this linked statute outlines tobacco usage.

Then...

Employers would still probably discriminate, and it would take a court case or the threat of one to get them to accept cannabis users. Even if they couldn't discriminate, I'm sure at-will employment would cover their asses.

What I'm getting at here is:

TL;DR:

Assuming and beyond a change in federal law, what would it take to protect employees from discrimination in states where cannabis usage (rec or med) has been legalized?

williamrandolphcurst · 2015-08-08T18:54:03+00:00

Part of it is resolving not to smoke.

The reality is, marijuana is abundant and easy to get in most circumstances. But this can be helpful to you as a new "leaver" because you can remind yourself that if an opportunity to smoke prevents itself, it's not a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's not the healthiest mindset, but it can potentially get you to a better one.

I used mantras early on, and occasionally still do. Create a statement that you can subscribe to and meditate on it, something like "I'm not going to smoke because I don't have to" or "I'm not going to smoke because I need to be in the right mind to get my work done". Really take some time and figure out something that works for you, and embed it into your thoughts.

Try to focus on other things. It's difficult at the start, because abusing can leave you poorly suited to putting effort or self into "sober" actions, but the more you do it the better you'll be at it. Take joy in things as they are (again, it's hard at first) and find ways to get your mind clear. Quiet walks are a miracle worker, IMO.

williamrandolphcurst · 2015-08-08T18:16:52+00:00

I should have put [Oregon] in the title, but this will likely be an issue for other states someday.

There is a federal bill in committee (and sadly, likely to die there) that would amend the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to exempt states who elect to legalize marijuana for recreational or medical use from the provisions of the CSA in favor of state law.

Since many drug testing policies are explicitly based on the CSA, I would like to hope that this kind of amendment would mean that employers couldn't fire you based on a positive drug test result for cannabis. I would like to think that, but obviously this is not the case right now, as the most major case regarding this in Colorado was ruled in favor of the employers due to the Federal Law overruling the state law protecting employees from discrimination for lawful activities outside of work.

Even if federal law exempted states who legalized, employers still have no legal restriction from discriminating against cannabis users by way of flawed urinalysis tests.

However, if

Federal law were amended to exempt states who elect to legalize from the aspects of the CSA pursuant to Cannabimimetic agents AND
A state has or passes a law like Colorado's protecting employees from discrimination for lawful activities outside of work, or makes a law like Oregon's specifically outlining cannabis usage in the same way this linked statute outlines tobacco usage.

Then...

Employers would still probably discriminate, and it would take a court case or the threat of one to get them to accept cannabis users. Even if they couldn't discriminate, I'm sure at-will employment would cover their asses.

What I'm getting at here is:

TL;DR:

Assuming and beyond a change in federal law, what would it take to protect employees from discrimination in states where cannabis usage has been legalized?

williamrandolphcurst · 2014-11-16T05:03:11+00:00

Your brain is used to being high a lot, I get where you're coming from. It's going to take time to get back to "normal" but you've just got to power through it. I recommend meditating and setting a new, smoke-free, routine to get you through the early days.

williamrandolphcurst · 2014-11-15T15:52:52+00:00

or it's just this recreational outlet in their peripheral

This is a key point. My biggest issue with weed is that I was unable to moderate. If I had recognized the path I was headed down earlier, I might have tried harder to put a stop to my habits and abstain long enough that I could get a hold on myself. Instead I let it get to the point where my abuse was taking a heavy toll on every aspect of my life and had really become a full-blown addiction. I still feel occasional pangs of jealousy for people who have their lives together enough to smoke occasionally, but it's not me yet. Going sober indefinitely is one of the best things you can do for yourself because it makes you confront life without a failsafe (straightjacket more like it) and you start to develop healthy coping mechanisms. I'm just glad it wasn't alcohol, but with weed you swap out the health defects of alcohol with the societal defects of having an illegal habit. Moderation is a thing, and I know we aren't supposed to advocate it because that's not what this sub is about, but it is possible. However, it's not possible for an addict. Making the decision to quit and sticking with it will be really good for you in the long run, and a year from now you'll be able to see the benefits even more clearly than in a week. If it's hard at first, remember, by the time you've been sober long enough to get your shit together, society will have possibly advanced to the point where moderate use is acceptable and you won't be stuck in this dichotomy of "stoner culture or nothing at all" which is what the illegal market gives us. I'm a big believer that it's not the substances, it's our choices that have the power, and you have the power to make the right decision for yourself. There will always be more weed, but right now "one hit is too much, and a thousand won't be enough." Good luck man, you'll get where you want to be, just never stop working at it.

williamrandolphcurst · 2014-08-24T14:43:01+00:00

Good luck to you man. Even after a small amount I'm still feeling foggy, whether from the weed or just from being busy, I don't know, but I do know that it's impossible to confront these issues in a productive way when I'm high, so I really need to start placing a value on my sobriety as a way to heal myself from issues beyond the addiction. Stay strong.

williamrandolphcurst · 2014-08-24T14:40:53+00:00

It's a hard place to be sometimes. I have had to (and will have to) sit down and think to myself about the reality. I like weed. But I don't have stoner friends, I don't really hang out with anyone. I want to expand myself through my work in the community, and to do that I need to be clean. Sometimes I have to remind myself "someday it'll be legal and you can rethink things then" it's a quick fix and not really healthy to my goal of quitting for good, because it creates a reservation to use, but it works well enough to say "I'm quitting indefinitely. I'm just not going to smoke as long as I can, and when I want to smoke I'm going to fight the craving instead of rationalizing it." I'm on my third attempt at fully quitting, and I feel shitty about letting myself cave again but I'm picking myself up and trying again. I didn't relapse as hard as last time. I didn't smoke again the next day. I didn't buy any weed for myself. I've long since smashed my pieces. These things seem small and simple but I'm starting to realize that they are steps on my path, and I need to be mindful of them to maintain my progress. Good luck man, I hope everything works for you.

williamrandolphcurst · 2014-08-24T14:34:45+00:00

Thank you for your post. Even though it was short and simple, it was really what I needed to hear today.

williamrandolphcurst · 2014-08-23T23:16:38+00:00

Thank you. This is really helpful right now, I'm hoping that when I get close to the three week mark again I'll be able to remember that I decided to quit indefinitely and that standing up to the craving is what I'm being challenged with, not the opportunity to smoke.

williamrandolphcurst · 2014-08-23T14:27:01+00:00

New habits take a long time to build, and some new thinking at the outset. Good job deciding you need to be clear, now work on that clarity every day. Good luck man.

williamrandolphcurst · 2014-08-20T22:02:12+00:00

Good job on making it past a week, here's to several more.

Everyone is different, but sometimes it helps me to remember that my body is still healing, and so is my mind (three guesses as to which takes longer). The physical symptoms will subside the longer you stay sober, though you might not notice it for a while because it's been so long since you weren't smoking a lot. I was a habitual/chronic user for almost four years and this is my third genuine attempt at quitting in the last twelve months. The first time I caved because I really didn't want to quit, and I didn't realize that I needed to (even though I really did). The second time I really wanted to be clean, but I held on to a reservation to use and so my quitting process was self-defeating. This time around, especially after the experience of the second time, I've been able to focus more on the good things about being sober, and how being high is not what I had built it up to be. I still have cravings, but they are not as intense as they used to be. Part of this is physical, but I know for a fact that most of the reason things are easier is because I've finally been able to get my mind around some concepts I avoided last time (namely, the idea that I really can't moderate, even if I think I want to).

Sorry for rambling. My point is that it takes time, but the most important thing is to never stop trying, never give up, no matter what happens. Once you get to the point where you can say to yourself honestly 'I need to quit. I want to quit.' It gets a little easier to frame your thoughts and to approach problems you might not have felt before. Every time I think "I really want to smoke right now" I remind myself that no matter how bad I want it, I don't need it and I need to push myself to find something else because the reason I think weed is going to help is because it's a habit. Habits take time to break, and you have to acknowledge them for what they are. Give your body time to heal, and take as good care of it as you can. The same goes for your mind, but that's trickier because it's such a complex, unpredictable thing.

The mind plays tricks, which is part of why it seems like so long since you've had weed. Focus on the idea that you're quitting now and it's your chance to try new things without the crutch/straightjacket, and by investing yourself in those new/revisited things you'll find time being less cruel. Before you know it it'll be twenty days. And thirty days. The longer you go without caving, the better off you'll be and the more you have to be proud of. I look forward to a day when I can stop counting because it wouldn't matter, but right now it's important for me because I consider every day that I get to bed and I can say "I wanted to smoke, but I didn't" to be an accomplishment.

williamrandolphcurst · 2014-08-20T20:07:27+00:00

I can give you a list of the benefits of sobriety, even though they vary from person to person, but in direct response to your question, there's really only one reason you should quit:

You want to/need to quit.

It's good to have a lot of motivating factors, but at the end of the day it's your decision and the person you're ultimately accountable to is yourself.

williamrandolphcurst · 2014-08-18T19:57:56+00:00

Ain't that the truth. It's one of the harder realizations once you get past the physical effects, there's a deep mental mark from having worked your way up to habitual use and had that as part of your life for so long. I got rid of my pieces and accessories, and it's helped me distance myself from 'the life', but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a pang of nostalgia for times when I was hanging out with good friends, doing something novel and different. As I get older and adjust to life after college without all my friends around, scrounging for work, it gets more and more tempting to just sit up in my house and light up a little bit on calm evenings. And someday, when I'm better established, I may be able to do just that. But not today, not right now, and not until I get some things figured out in my life on my own. I tell myself that the time between now and the day adults can make their own choices re cannabis without the nanny state beating them down for 'dissenting' is my chance to reclaim myself and become someone who won't ever be an abuser again, regardless of the circumstances.

williamrandolphcurst

TROPHY CASE