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Sarah Zielske and her dog, Zelda, shop together at Pure Green, one of a dozen marijuana shops dotting Northeast Sandy Boulevard, known informally as Portland's Green Mile. As Oregon marks the one-year anniversary of recreational marijuana sales, big questions remain about what cannabis industry will look like as it evolves and its impact on public health and the economy.

(Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian)

Updated: 1:52 p.m.

A bill introduced in the Oregon senate would mean no more tests for cannabis use as a condition for employment and no more fear that casual use of the now-legal-in-Oregon substance could cost you your job.

Senate Bill 301, first read on Jan. 7, "provides that conditioning employment on refraining from using any substance that is lawful to use in this state is unlawful employment practice."

While the bill doesn't explicitly state it refers to cannabis products, it was put forth by the Joint Interim Marijuana Legalization Committee, which seeks to address the fact that in a state where cannabis consumption is legal, it is also still legal to fire an employee who fails a test for cannabis.

Since the legalization of cannabis in Oregon, some people say they have been fired for off-duty use. In May of 2015, Cyd Maurer, 25, a morning weekend anchor at Eugene's ABC affiliate, said she was fired for failing a drug test after getting into a minor fender-bender while on assignment for KEZI.

This bill would make marijuana use legally similar to tobacco use, meaning as long as consumption doesn't happen during work hours or interfere with work duties, it would be illegal to fire someone or not hire someone based on casual use.

Since Oregon is an "at-will" employment state, anyone can be fired for anything not specifically protected under law. Alcohol use is not protected, but tobacco use is.

The bill allows exemption "if an applicable collective bargaining agreement prohibits off-duty use," so, if it passes, you'll want to check with your union before you light up.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052

lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker