{"id":12581,"date":"2023-02-02T11:05:46","date_gmt":"2023-02-02T19:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/contractors-search-for-clarity-amid-changing-pot-laws\/"},"modified":"2023-02-02T11:05:46","modified_gmt":"2023-02-02T19:05:46","slug":"contractors-search-for-clarity-amid-changing-pot-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/contractors-search-for-clarity-amid-changing-pot-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"Contractors search for clarity amid changing pot laws"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/essential.construction\/files\/membership-default-internal\/\" class=\"memberhide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/01\/20220718_175041000_iOS.jpg\" alt=\"-\"><\/a><br\/><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The number of states with legalized recreational marijuana is growing.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/nexstar_media_wire\/3789873-where-will-marijuana-be-legal-in-2023\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Rhode Island and New York<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0started allowing sales in late 2022.\u00a0<span><span><span><span><span><span>Connecticut followed in January. Maryland\u2019s law will change to allow recreational use in July. That brings the total number of states that have legalized recreational use to 21, plus Washington, D.C.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The legal changes have <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/news\/marijuana-initiatives-pass-in-5-states-what-contractors-need-to-know\/588534\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>put some contractors on edge<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>: How can they keep their jobsites safe? How do they detect onsite use? How much of their employees\u2019 substance use can they influence?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cThere\u2019s more confusion than clarity at this point,\u201d said Carl Heinlein, senior safety consultant for American Contractors Insurance Group. Heinlein, who is based in Wexford, Pennsylvania, also said this has been an ongoing conversation with his clients, who are nationwide.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><h4 class=\"ed-chart__title\">Marijuana laws vary by state<\/h4>\n<p><iframe aria-label=\"Map\" data-external=\"1\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"469\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-Lffeu\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/Lffeu\/5\/\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" title=\"Marijuana laws vary by state\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Unlike with alcohol, there is no immediate test of sobriety or impairment for cannabis. That leaves superintendents or safety officers trying to detect impairment solely by behavior, said Jonathan Ash, attorney and partner at Fox Rothschild.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cI would say to employers, and particularly contractors, be as current and up to date as to how you can detect impairment,\u201d said Ash, who is based in Princeton, New Jersey.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>But the whole issue is complicated by the fact that, at the federal level, marijuana use is still illegal, and the drug is a controlled substance. For contractors that work across different states, the laws don\u2019t always align.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cRules for where the corporate office is may not line up with the rules in Colorado,\u201d said Heinlein, as an example.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Marijuana laws ranked as <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hrdive.com\/news\/2022-midterm-elections-ballot-initiatives-impact-on-HR\/636197\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>one of the most challenging multijurisdiction compliance<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> issues in an Ogletree Deakins survey of in-house counsel and senior HR professionals.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"standard-heading\"><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Walking the tightrope<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Contractors\u2019 best bet, according to HR pros, is focusing on measuring on-the-job impairment, as anything beyond that can intrude into workers\u2019 personal lives.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>But the laws still differ state to state. For example, Ash said New Jersey once allowed employers to ban marijuana use for safety-sensitive positions, but newer laws no longer recognize that policy as valid.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In June, D.C.&#8217;s city council unanimously passed a ban on <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hrdive.com\/news\/marijuana-legislation-still-troubles-talent-strategy\/636394\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>firing workers for failed cannabis tests<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> starting this summer. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a similar bill in September, protecting off-the-clock cannabis users from termination, effective January 2024.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>It is well within the rights of employers in most states to have a drug-free workplace policy, meaning workers cannot possess or use drugs at work, Ash said, adding he\u2019s had times where clients terminate an employee for having pot in a company vehicle.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>And the concerns are real: A 2021 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nsc.org\/getmedia\/76a2d3e0-9bf4-46ae-9d11-67f680cf44cd\/infographic.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>National Safety Council survey<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> found that one-third of employees had seen workplace cannabis use.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"standard-heading\"><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Bringing in stakeholders<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Heinlein said the key to maintaining a safe workplace is communicating via teams contractors already know, while protecting worker privacy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cMy advice is to continue the communication with the right folks. Legal team, insurance folks, your employer groups, the trade associations,\u201d Heinlein said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Training managers or superintendents is also critical, Catharine Morisset, partner in the Seattle office of Fisher Phillips,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hrdive.com\/news\/employers-face-new-era-of-drug-testing-in-post-pandemic-landscape\/632506\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>told HR Dive<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>. Contractors \u2014\u00a0<span><span><span><span><span><span>and indeed all employers \u2014\u00a0may rely on managers to determine when there is a reasonable suspicion that an employee is under the influence while working. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Still, Morisset advised exercising caution when deciding who to train managers. Employers should consider developing a checklist or other form of documentation for the behaviors managers should monitor, she said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cMake sure that the person conducting the training has been trained themselves on how to do reasonable suspicion education,\u201d Morriset said. \u201cNot every employment lawyer is even the right person for that.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Updating and reviewing policies annually, Morisset said, will help adapt an up-to-date approach based on continually changing regulations and the jurisdictions in which employers operate.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<section class=\"storylines-carousel-wrapper hide-small show-large\" id=\"desktop-carousel\"\/>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Heinlein added that communicating with workers face-to-face is still a smart route. Mentioning legal changes during toolbox talks can help emphasize that showing up to work clearheaded is part of how you make sure everyone gets home safe.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cThe old adage for us is, anything you do in construction, you could get hurt,\u201d Heinlein said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5143531171910809\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- News - Bottom -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5143531171910809\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"8320848692\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/news\/contractors-search-for-clarity-amid-changing-pot-laws\/641876\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">This article was originally posted at Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The number of states with legalized recreational marijuana is growing. Rhode Island and New York\u00a0started allowing sales in late 2022.\u00a0Connecticut &#8230; <a title=\"Contractors search for clarity amid changing pot laws\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/contractors-search-for-clarity-amid-changing-pot-laws\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Contractors search for clarity amid changing pot laws\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[457],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-construction-dive","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12581\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}