Doesn't Scott Goold Deserve HECO Cannabis Clemency

Open Letter to KITV4

This letter was forwarded to Honorable Jeanné Kapela, sponsor of the cannabis clemency legislation. She kindly responded on April 30, 2023:

Aloha,
I completely agree with you. This year, I sponsored HB 238 [download], which would protect medical cannabis patients from facing adverse employment actions. The bill wasn’t heard, but I plan to fight for its passage during next year’s legislative session. Medical cannabis patients shouldn’t be subjected to discriminatory employment actions of any kind, since, as you say, medical cannabis is a valid form of medical treatment. I will keep you updated on these efforts. Mahalo!

Jeanné Kapela
Pronouns: she/her/hers
State House Representative
District 5, South Kona to Kea'au
Phone: (808) 586-9605
www.repkapela.com

Matthew Nuttle :: mnuttle@kitv.com
Digital Content Manager, KITV4
KITV4 ARTICLE SOURCE

Hawai'i legislature passes resolution allowing for possible clemency for low-level cannabis offenses

Aloha Matthew ~
What a blessed day to hear Hawai’i may soon stop punishing people for cannabis use. I was recommended opioids for my medical needs. I’m uniquely trained by the CDC-University of New Mexico School of Medicine to counsel individuals and groups to avoid deadly, highly-addictive medications.

One alternative is medical cannabis. Over 90% of Americans support the legal used of this medication. However, Hawaiian Electric fired me due to my legal, prescribed use. Had I used opioids, I would not have lost my job.

Was badly injured at the time, and suffer a disability. My treatment plan called for medicating in the evening prior to bed to reduce my severe chronic pain so I could sleep soundly. I never medicated before or during work hours. Nobody questions my fitness for duty or ability to legally and safely drive a car to work, for example.

The decision by HECO management stripped me of employment, income and healthcare insurance. The cruelest part of the incident is that I had checked corporate policy and specifically asked my assigned HR rep, Liz Dear. She assured me I would be fine. HECO fired me without warning two weeks later — booting me out of their office location in shame like a drug criminal.

I tell my story hoping that corporations like HECO will end their outdated restriction for non-safety-sensitive employes. Amazon set a nation standard ending testing for cannabis in pre-employment drug screens June 2021 for unregulated positions (e.g., positions not regulated by the Department of Transportation). I was also in an unregulated position. The NBA recently announced they will no longer test for cannabis beginning this summer.

I hope to be the Last Employee Terminated for this reason.

Hawai'i House Concurrent Resolution 51 was sponsored by Hawai'i State Rep. Jeanné Kapela. Kapela represents House District 5 on Hawai'i Island, that includes Keaau, Kurtistown, Mountain View, Glenwood, Fern Forest, Volcano and Pahala.

State Representative Jeanné Kapela House District 5

A spokesperson for the Last Prisoner Project issued the following statement on the passing of the resolution:

"Over the course of last year and throughout this legislative session, we've worked with members of the legislature to ensure that any cannabis legalization proposal includes retroactive relief for those criminalized by prohibition. We were obviously disheartened to see that the legalization proposal (Senate Bill 669), which had the most traction this session and included retroactive relief mechanisms, did not even receive a hearing in the House.

However, Governor Green still has the ability to create a pathway to relief for individuals whose continued incarceration is no longer in the interests of justice. The establishment of a dedicated cannabis clemency program would be a crucial first step in addressing the harm caused by decades of failed drug policies. We hope that this resolution will spark some action by Governor Green and we look forward to supporting his office as they roll out a cannabis clemency program."

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” Dalai Lama

CDC Trained Scott to Battle Opioid Epidemic. HECO Fired Him

Related Documents

Goold Discrimination Complaint [filed 4.6.23] download

Goold Discrimination Complaint Exhibits [filed 4.6.23] download

NBA Ends Cannabis Testing; players can now sign endorsement deals with sports betting, cannabis and CBD companies.

Scott began serving residents of Hawai'i, as a contracted database analyst for Hawaiian Electric in August 2018. His coworkers praised him. Manager Lori Yafuso wrote in his 90-day review:

YOU have been a great asset to our team and it is your personality and humble nature that makes all of us so comfortable working together. We have had contractors on the DBA team before, but never with the synergy and positive energy that you bring with you. I believe you have had the greatest influence in our success and glad that we selected the right contractor. You have definitely made your mark here at HECO and have set the bar very high for future contractors!

Thank you for being you…keep doing what you do…keep that good karma flowing!
HECO IT Manager Lori Yafuso

Post-termination, Scott received an email from one of his colleagues:

Hi Scott,
I personally never saw any evidence of you being impaired. Quite the contrary in fact. I would say sharp, expedient, professional, techical, humble, the whole package really.

But I did notice you had a limp, so I suspected you were in pain, but you never mentioned anything, and I never bothered to ask, our conversations were always about getting things done, and you delivered in times when we had to deliver and get things done.

Marijuana is a complex issue, often misunderstood, has been known to relieve pain, and when used correctly does not impair.
Sincerely,
HECO IT coworker

When offered permanent employment, Scott Goold honorably, honestly and ethically disclosed his legal, prescribed medical cannabis use. HECO staff — all women — deceived him. They misled him. They promised to get back to him if there were any issues. Didn't. They entrapped Scott and set him up for failure. They discharged Scott from service — because they consider Scott to be a dangerous dude.