To date, 25 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized cannabis use to some degree. Most recent laws legalizing cannabis use have been geared towards removing criminal penalties for users, and do not fully address workplace issues posed by medical cannabis.
Because state statutes pertaining to cannabis are generally very new, most have not yet been subjected to judicial interpretation. This means there is little (if any) guidance about what the statutes mean, much less any clear direction for employers struggling with whether—and, if so, how—their employment policies and practices should be modified to take into account the new statutes. Adding to the uncertainty for employers is that federal law continues to prohibit cannabis use, distribution, and possession for any reason.
At this year’s MACo Winter Conference, you can learn about potential liability and logistical issues due to the changing landscape of state medical cannabis laws, including the potential for accommodation requests and wrongful termination claims.
Here are more details:
Title: Cannabis in the Workplace: Clearing the Haze
Description: After years of working to establish drug-free workplaces, employers now face the possibility of legal drug users within their organizations. As long as it remains illegal under federal law, many employers remain committed to their drug-free policies and intend to continue testing applicants and employees for cannabis. Other employers may decide to modify their current policies based on changes in state law. With the numerous legal and policy considerations swirling around medical cannabis, employers and workers alike are seeking clarification. In this session, representatives from the public and private sectors will discuss the many liability and logistical issues due to the changing landscape of state medical cannabis laws, including the potential for accommodation requests and wrongful termination claims. Attend this session to hear more about what to expect in the near future and the best practices to protect your workplace and employees.
Date/Time: Thursday, December 8, 2016; 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
The MACo Winter Conference will be held December 7-9, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, Maryland. This year the conference’s theme is “An Ounce of Prevention.”
Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference:
