Debbie Lesko: “In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, House Democrats are rushing to pass a sweeping marijuana legalization bill…”

“In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, House Democrats are rushing to pass a sweeping marijuana legalization bill without considering the unintended consequences the legislation will have on workplace and public safety. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, studies have suggested specific links between marijuana use and adverse consequences in the workplace, such as increased risk for injuries or accidents. According to the Federal Government's own workplace safety experts at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, or NIOSH, other studies of cannabis use have demonstrated effects that include sedation, disorientation, impaired judgment, lack of concentration, and slowed fine motor skills. As my Democratic colleagues often say, we need to follow the science. Currently, it is common practice for employers in industries such as construction and warehouse logistics to enact zero-tolerance drug policies that include a prohibition on marijuana usage to protect workers by ensuring a safe workplace and to comply with Federal law. Unlike on-demand evaluations of alcohol usage, there currently is no adequate real-time intoxication testing technology for marijuana impairment. By removing marijuana from the list of scheduled substances in the Controlled Substance Act, the underlying bill will place unnecessary burdens on private employers and will needlessly jeopardize workplace and public safety and health.…”