As medical cannabis use expands in states across the U.S., and signs point toward federal legalization in the future, safety professionals must know the implications for workplace safety.
Not only are more states legalizing medical cannabis, but more doctors are also prescribing it rather than heavy-duty pain-relief options like opiates. As adoption and use increases, more cases come up in the courts about how to address medical cannabis in the workplace, prompting many states to reevaluate their laws as the landscape evolves.
This leaves employers and safety professionals operating under a patchwork of laws, policies and requirements, from their state legislatures to OSHA to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
Diving into this legally gray area, Adele Abrams, Esq., ASP, CMSP, highlighted cannabis laws, relevant cases, policy developments and workplace trends in a webinar titled “Medical Cannabis and Workplace Safety,” presented by our Consultants Practice Specialty and Blacks in Safety Excellence (BISE) Common Interest Group.