Marijuana at work: how State and Federal Laws affect now!

California Marijuana Laws; how to keep the workplace drug free

After legalization, the use of marijuana for both medical and recreational continues to increase across the US. Employers must place a high priority on making changes to their workplace policies now. If you recruit, hire or manage employees, you need to know the limits imposed by law – both on individuals and employers – so you do not run into legal troubles.

With eight states and the District of Columbia now allowing the use of recreational marijuana, and 30 states permitting its use for medical purposes, your HR department is up against an ill-defined wall.
States that have passed recreational marijuana laws to strictly regulate the drug’s use – such as by banning public use, where it can be bought, and how much can be grown at home. And more importantly, no state law forces an employer to tolerate its use in the workplace.

Join our employment law expert Jennifer Raphael Komsky Esq., in this on-demand webinar, and she explains the recent legalization of recreational and medical marijuana in California and other states, and provides insights on how to keep the workplace drug free. Jennifer guides you on how to handle the current conflict between the state and federal laws – and the legislation trends. You’ll understand when and how to legally conduct drug screenings/testing, take action against an employee suspected of using marijuana – and what to do if an employee tests positive.

The speaker will also show you how to avoid disability discrimination claims, and advise you on the drug and alcohol policies you should have in place to comply with state and federal laws.

As an added benefit, you will receive useful reference documents, sample policies, and legislative knowledge for regulations affecting the use, management and discipline concerning marijuana and other substances in California.

Webinar Agenda

• Navigate the landscape of conflicting laws about marijuana and other substances.
• Review the trends in proposed legislation surrounding marijuana.
• Understand when and how an employer can take action against an employee suspected of using marijuana either for recreational or medical use.
• Discuss when and how you can legally conduct drug screenings/testing.
• Know how to avoid disability discrimination claims when an employee has a medical marijuana card.
• Understand what drug and alcohol policies you should have in place to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.

Webinar Highlights

• The present legal scenario of state laws legalizing marijuana in conflict with federal laws criminalizing it.
• Trends and proposed legislation impacting the use of marijuana by employees.
• How an employer can drug test employees - when and under what scenarios?
• How and under what circumstances can an employer discipline an employee that appears impaired, even if the impairment is because of medical marijuana for a verified disability?
• How to manage a positive drug test with no known indicators of impairment?
• What are the employment actions available in response to a positive drug screening?
• How and when to conduct background checks for drug convictions that are no longer illegal? What information can be obtained? What information must be provided to the applicant about the process?
• Drug and other medical testing