A Legal Eye on Medical Cannabis for County Employers

Maryland’s Association of County Human Resources Officers hosts a conversation on the implications of medical cannabis use and personnel policies featuring a labor law expert.

Bert Randall, Jr., President of Franklin & Prokopik will join a panel discussion at MACo’s Witner Conference on medical cannabis, lending insight to issues that may be faced by county human resources officers.

Randall is a trial attorney concentrating in complex matters involving employment, tort liability and business litigation. Outside of his active trial practice, Bert provides general counsel services to Maryland businesses and actively counsels employers in effective policy formation and training in order to avoid costly litigation.

In this session, Randall will be sharing his perspective and insight into how county employers may best navigate questions and challenges that arise around employees using medical cannabis. Currently one of his favorite subjects, Randall will delve into:

  • What is going on nationally from a regulatory perspective
  • The current dichotomy between Maryland’s law and federal law
  • Implications for employer’s, including:
    • Personnel options for county employers, including updated employment policies and questions regarding the ability to terminate employees based on use of cannabis
    • Risks to county employers, including liability for injuries that occur while an employee is seemingly impaired

More information about the Winter Conference Session about medical cannabis:

  • Title: When Green Fades to Gray: Workplace Standards in the Cannabis Era
  • Description: The use of medical cannabis, now legal under State law, may create a gray area within county government personnel policies. Traditional health and safety polices – especially important for county government roles that involve operating utility equipment, supervising children, and protecting public safety – are not as clear with medical cannabis use. In addition, ADA compliance, requests for accommodation, and wrongful termination challenges are anticipated. In this session, speakers will share how workplace policies may need to be clarified or adapted now that medical cannabis is legal in Maryland and what may be in store—from a Human Resources perspective—if recreational marijuana is legalized in Maryland.
  • Speakers:
    • Kimberly L. Frock, CEBS, GBA, RPA, CLRP, Human Resources Director, Carroll County Government
    • Jim Richardson, Director, Harford County Department of Human Resources
    • Helen White, CSAPA, White Glove Drug & Alcohol Testing, Inc.
    • Albert (Bert) B. Randall, Jr., Esq., President, Franklin & Prokopik, P.C.
  • Moderator: The Honorable Jeff Ghrist, Maryland House of Delegates
  • Date/Time: Thursday, January 3, 2019; 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

The MACo Winter Conference will be held January 2-4, 2019 at the Hyatt in Cambridge, Maryland. This year’s theme is, “Charting the Course.”

Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference:

Bert
Albert B. Randall, Jr., President of Franklin & Prokopik will speak at the MACo Conference on medical cannabis and county employers.