Chicopee Chamber Lunch & Learn: Marijuana Legislation

Up in Smoke: The Impact of Massachusetts’ Legalization of Medical and Recreational Marijuana Use in the Workplace The use of marijuana for certain medical purposes became legal under Massachusetts law in 2012. The use of marijuana for recreational purposes became legal under Massachusetts law in 2016. And, in July of 2017, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Massachusetts employers covered by the State’s disability laws have an obligation to reasonably accommodate medical marijuana use under certain circumstances. This ruling is a departure from all other states that have addressed this issue. This seminar will provide Massachusetts employers with critical knowledge of these laws and help employers navigate the following questions: > How does legalization in Massachusetts impact an organization’s existing drug and alcohol policies, including pre-employment and current employee testing? Should an organization implement a drug and alcohol policy now? > When does medical marijuana use need to be reasonably accommodated in the workplace? > Can an employer still fire or discipline an employee for being high at work? How can we tell if an employee is high? Event Speaker: Layla Taylor, Esq. Speaker Sponsor: Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn, LLC Event Series Sponsor: Westfield Bank