Why businesses oppose marijuana legalization in Arizona

[TexasTowelie]

To get a job at Woodworkers Source, potential employees must pass a drug test.

There's a good reason for that, said Keith Stephens, owner of the Scottsdale-based lumber-supply business: “Many, many businesses, including mine, have a certain element of risk. In my case it’s driving a forklift loaded with heavy material and being in the shop with chop saws,” said Stephens, 72, of Paradise Valley.

If Arizona voters legalize marijuana for recreational use through a ballot measure poised to appear on the November ballot, Stephens worries it would become more difficult to find qualified workers.

Stephens, who employs more than 30 people and whose company did $6 million in sales last year, is part of what is quickly becoming a united front of businesses, CEOs and commerce and tourism groups against legalizing the drug that is still prohibited by federal law.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/07/12/why-arizona-businesses-oppose-marijuana-legalization/86808140/

[SheilaT]

1. This is a genuine problem.

While I'm in favor of legal marijuana, there are various things, including operating heavy machinery, a person shouldn't be doing while impaired. I don't know enough about the field testing of a person who is apparently under the influence to make a sensible comment here.

Alcohol is legal, but there are pretty strict laws about the amount of alcohol you may have in your bloodstream (or breath) and still be legal to drive a car. I don't know if similar standards and reliable testing for marijuana exist.

We all understand that there will be those who will drink or smoke or whatever and hope not to get caught. I just hope the testing side can catch up to the reality.

[Midnight Writer]

2. Uh, you could still fire an employee for being under the influence.

Just as you can fire an employee for showing up drunk, you can fire an employee for coming in stoned.

And, just for your information, Mr. Stephens, you already have employees that drink and that smoke pot. They are on every job in America. You also have employees that are straight as an arrow who are incompetent. You are the boss. You sort it out.

By the way, in Colorado, where recreational pot is legal, surveys show LESS underage pot use than when pot was illegal. A slight decline, but still a decline.

[Granny M]

3. Better testing methods are needed.

From what I've heard, cannabis still shows up in tests long after the person isn't under the influence. Can anyone confirm this? Haven't smoked in years, myself, and never had a test. Although, IMO, someone under the influence of alcohol is more dangerous than someone under influence of pot.

[bluedigger]

4. How come they never use the example of convenience store clerk?

That's the dangerous job I got fired from for testing positive for pot. Never missed a shift. Fucking asshole piss testing lobby.

[Kali]

5. Yes.

Fuck testing, especially for screening. It pisses me off. We just give our rights away and accept this shit WAY too easy. If only there was a privacy lobby like the NRA!

If people show impairment or incompetence, then test (or just fire) them. Otherwise nunyobidness!