The Wapakoneta Area Chamber of Commerce held a forum to discuss marijuana with employers on Wednesday morning.
Precious Grundy | The Lima News
WAPAKONETA — Following the legalization of recreational marijuana in Ohio, employers may wonder what is next for their company. The Wapakoneta Area Chamber of Commerce held a forum to discuss the changes to the law and how it may impact businesses.
The forum consisted of attorneys from FGKS Law who were ready to answer any questions concerning the coming changes.
“We have had a lot of panic calls, in November and December,” Attorney Colleen Gong said. “Employers ask ‘what do we do, what kind of testing and what kind of policies do we need?’ The first piece of advice that we say is, don’t panic. This is a big change for Ohio and it is a big change for employers in theory, but it’s also really not a big change.”
According to the Ohio State Medical Board, medical marijuana first became legal for physicians to recommend in 2016. The program took years before becoming operational. Local dispensary Verilife, located in Wapakoneta, sells medicinal marijuana and will soon obtain a license to sell recreationally.
“It is not legal to buy anything recreational right now,” Verilife General Manager Jackie Strange said. “We are still just a medical facility. They have until August to issue licenses.”
Strange also said the start of licensing will begin at existing dispensaries and there will be another application process for other businesses who want to sell recreationally.
Gong also said the question of where community members can use marijuana will be determined at a later date.
“The new law carved out special protections for employers saying you are free to continue enforcing your drug-free workplace policy,” Gong said. “You are not required to permit or accommodate an employee’s use, possession or distribution of marijuana. That includes medical marijuana as well. You can still drug-test applicants and employees and refuse to hire someone if they test positive for marijuana.”
For more information reach the firm at www.fgks-law.com.
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
