Stance On Marijuana In The Workplace 

As a culinarian in an ever-changing world, the newest debate to arise has been the legalization of marijuana and its effects in the work place. My personal stance on that is that legalization of fore mentioned drug should not make it allowable in the work places.  We have strict policies that make it illegal to show up to work under the influence of alcohol, so marijuana should not be the exception. If an individual uses marijuana for medicinal purposes or recreational purposes, it should be done off work premises. The work place’s highest concern is safety of the members along with upholding the mission. Research has proven that using marijuana has been linked to a decrease in safety.

Marijuana use has been linked to an increase in job accidents and injuries, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that the short-term effects of marijuana include impaired body movement, difficulty with thinking and problem-solving, memory problems, and an altered sense of time. Occupational Health & Safety

By Terri L. DoughertyFeb 01, 2016

https://ohsonline.com/articles/2016/02/01/marijuana-use-and-its-impact-on-workplace-safety-and-productivity.aspx

Also, there is an already existing concern within the work place. The concern is that there are too many candidates that are looking for employment that cannot pass the initial drug test. Allowing more open use of marijuana in the work place would only make this a bigger problem. However, the biggest concern is that of a lawsuit from the applicant.

“The other piece is that if they don’t hire that person or the person is impaired at work, can the person come back and sue them for discrimination for their marijuana use,” he said, citing the example of a Colorado Dish Network employee, Brandon Coats, who was fired under the company’s “zero-tolerance” policy for drug use when he tested positive for medical marijuana.

journal-news Vivienne Machi Staff Writer 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, 2015 Local Newshttp://www.journal-news.com/news/employers-legalizing-marijuana-affects-workplace-safety-hires/aOw3LOlXwkD2UN3V6RFIzL

Furthermore, I believe that the real game changer will come into play when marijuana is federally legalized. This would even the playing field by eliminating the gray areas. Until this change comes to pass, as a business owner, I must have the highest safety guidelines in place to protect myself and others alike.