Scottl
Diamond
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2013
- Location
- Eastern Massachusetts, USA
This may not be the right forum and I hope it doesn't degrade into a political discussion but I think it will have an impact on manufacturing, machining, and the use of machinery in general.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has legalized the use of medical marijuana and just awarded 20 licenses for dispensaries. Therefore, for some people, the use of marijuana is now legal. While some of these people would be way too sick to work and some may be on permanent disability there may be others who are in the work force. I wonder what position that puts employers in re. the safe operation of machinery. Traditionally it has been deemed undesirable for people under the influence of either drugs or alcohol to operate machinery. Many employers require drug screening tests before hiring and sometimes periodically while employed.
I am not sure that Massachusetts and other states that have legalized it have fully dealt with these issues in advance. I fear that trying to enforce workplace safety could now become a civil rights violation. I would be especially interested in how this issue is dealt with in other states that have previously gone ahead with legalization.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has legalized the use of medical marijuana and just awarded 20 licenses for dispensaries. Therefore, for some people, the use of marijuana is now legal. While some of these people would be way too sick to work and some may be on permanent disability there may be others who are in the work force. I wonder what position that puts employers in re. the safe operation of machinery. Traditionally it has been deemed undesirable for people under the influence of either drugs or alcohol to operate machinery. Many employers require drug screening tests before hiring and sometimes periodically while employed.
I am not sure that Massachusetts and other states that have legalized it have fully dealt with these issues in advance. I fear that trying to enforce workplace safety could now become a civil rights violation. I would be especially interested in how this issue is dealt with in other states that have previously gone ahead with legalization.