Page 83 - Occupational Health & Safety, September 2017

gives states the right to allow the manufacture and sale of alco- hol, govern importing into and out of the state, control distribu- tion, and monitor and enforce possession—it could not be legal- ized in its current form. The Federal Alcohol Administration Act sets labeling and advertising rules and prevents consumers from being deceived by misleading statements as to the quality and identity of a product. Following the alcohol standards, it would also require marijuana sold in individual states to indicate the content sold in each product. But, again, marijuana is not fol- lowing those standards.
For employers, the costs are real: workers’ compensation claims, higher health care and liability insurance premiums, litiga- tion expense. All of these will impact the bottom line, making drug testing and a sound drug policy even more critical. Drug testing, when consistently applied, will assist in protecting an employer from claims of negligent hiring. Failure of an employer to conduct a reasonable investigation of an employee who impacts the safety of co-workers, or the public at large, could result in the additional cost of negligent hiring claims.
Taxpayers and employers alike need to educate themselves, advocate on their own behalf, and protect themselves against the costs of marijuana legalization. They need to reconsider the idea that legalization is a harmless, personal decision.
Nina French is the Managing Partner for the Current Consulting Group, LLC, and a member of the DATIA Board of Directors. She has more than 24 years of experience in employee screening, special- izing in product and business development, drug testing marketing and sales strategy, and occupational health and wellness operations as part of an overall screening organization. Her consulting empha- sis is on helping employee screening providers streamline operations, launch products, increase revenue, and retain existing clients. The Current Consulting Group (CCG) is a tenured team of experts in the drug screening industry who together offer a comprehensive lineup of expert consulting services. Members of CCG speak at more than 60 events annually, including client-customized webinars, iHeart Radio, OH&S, DATIA, SAPAA, NAPBS and SHRM, and they are published in leading industry magazines, blogs, and publications.
REFERENCES
1. Sacks, J. J., Gonzales, K. R., Bouchery, E. E., Tomedi, L. E., & Brewer, R. D. (2015). 2010 national and state costs of excessive alcohol consumption. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 49(5), e73-e79
2. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2006-2013 and CDOT/RMHIDTA 2014
3. https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/11/21/crime-rates-are- soaring-in-seattle-and-denver-is-m.aspx
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