MARIJUANA IN THE WORKPLACE PANEL DISCUSSION
As we evolve from the "Just Say No" culture of the 1980's, today we find ourselves in a haze of marijuana legalization throughout the United States. Not only have many states legalized medical marijuana use, others are now legalizing pot for personal use, banning "discriminatory" employer practices, creating Driving Under Influence exemptions and creating many other laws and regulations that affect your workplace. 2018 was a year when more employer questions, concerns, obligations and dilemmas arose in this developing legal area.
Too many employers still believe that if their state bans marijuana use, they are safe from this changing tide in the law, untrue. Numerous federal laws, as well as conflicts between state laws, directly impact employers. Every employer must understand the effect in the workplace of both marijuana legalization on business and the cultural erosion of our ban on drugs. This interactive panel discussion moderated by NAWBO Columbus VP of Programming Karlena Wallace, will offer you compliance tools and best practices to keep your company goals both legal and in sharp focus!
AGENDA:
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Marijuana legalization in the U.S., including the politics, pros and cons
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Medical marijuana
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Understanding the impact on federal laws, state laws and statutory construction issues
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FMLA & ADA
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State and federal discrimination and criminal laws
- Case Studies
- Policy issues including, codes of conduct, drug testing, alcohol, and travel and reimbursement, etc.
- Best HR Practices
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Foreseeable changes as we progress into the next half decade
MEET OUR PANEL:
Panelist: Dyann McDowell, Training Marbles
Dyann McDowell is an insightful and compassionate Training and Development Consultant who brings over twenty four years of hands-on
Drug-Free Workplace experience including development, employee and supervisor training and program oversight, program administration and consultation. With nearly 30 years as a Supervisor/Manager and 15 years of Human Resources Consulting, Dyann brings hands-on experience and techniques to your leadership team. -Bachelors of Science in Marketing from the Ohio State University and completed the course work for Psychology with a focus on Substance Abuse. Pending Board certification and testing.
Training Marbles. Inc. was established as a turn-key provider for training services to directly serve and support the workplace with development, program delivery and maintenance
Panelist: Sharon Delay, BoldlyGO Career and HR Management, LLC
Sharon DeLay,HR consultant, business owner, and trainer, is the owner and President of BoldlyGO Career and HR Management, LLC (dba GO-HR), a HR 
consultancy working almost exclusively with small and micro businesses across five areas: general HR, recruiting and on-boarding, training and development, benefits and benefits consulting, and career and corporate outplacement. The company also provides HR project work for larger companies, with their biggest client being a $1 Billion oil and transportation company with 1,600 employees.
She finished a two-year term as the VP of Communications for the NAWBO Columbus board in April 2017, and is the recipient of the NAWBO Columbus 2015 Women’s Business Champion.
Panelist: Nickole Ross, Noohra Labs
Nickole Ross is the COO of Noohra Labs, winner of a provisional license to process/manufacturer medicinal marijuana in Dayton Ohio. She has over 9 years’ experience in operation management and business marketing,
completing a BA in Business Organizational Management at Ashford University. Ross is co-founder of Elevation VIP, a cannabis infused dinning collective in Los Angeles, CA. Here Ross utilized personal industry relationships and knowledge to help market an innovative and healthier way to consume edibles with proper dosing with Chef Andrea Drummer. This method of infusing edibles through fine dining sparked national attention, prestigious publications and partnerships with top brands throughout the medical marijuana industry. After entering the medical marijuana industry 7 years ago as marketing director for Elevation VIP. Nickole took her experience and expertise to expand Fre-Flo Distribution operations team and marketing vision.
Ross's goal is to continue to educate and build awareness of the power and benefits of medical marijuana in her home state Ohio, by partnering with strategic cannabis business committed to changing the way people think about the marijuana through high-quality, safe products.
Panelist: Melanie Williamson, Fishel Downey Albrecht & Riepenhoff LLP
Melanie J. Williamson is a Partner with Fishel Downey Albrecht & Riepenhoff LLP. The focus of Melanie’s practice is civil litigation with an emphasis on civil 
rights litigation and governmental liabilities and immunities. Melanie has significant litigation experience. She has appeared before the Sixth Circuit, State Court of Appeals, trial courts and administrative agencies.
Melanie also presents seminars and training on a variety of topics including discrimination and harassment and law enforcement liability. Melanie has presented to the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association and the County Loss Control Coordinators Association. Melanie is a member of the Federal and Ohio State Bar Associations, Columbus Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute.