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Pubdate: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 Source: Grand Traverse Insider (Traverse City, MI) Copyright: 2011 Morning Star Publishing, a Journal Register Property Contact: http://www.morningstarpublishing.com/grand_traverse_insider/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5241 Author: Jeffray N. Kessler, Contributing Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan) CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS IMPACT OF MED MARIJUANA NORTHERN MICHIGAN - The Employer Training Council, in conjunction with the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, is sponsoring a conference designed to help businesses deal with the complex and multifaceted issue of medical marijuana in the work place. "Medical Marijuana The Law and How it Impacts Your Business and Employees" will take place at the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City Wednesday, Feb. 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Conference literature promotes "Create a Company Policy to Protect You and Your Employees" as the primary theme. "The conference is a response to the pulse in the market place, particularly members of the Employer Training Council, to deal with contemporary business needs in this new area," said Michigan Works Business Services Assistant Sharon Laraway-Gordon. "People will go away with good ideas, maybe not their last ideas, but a very good start." The conference touts a diverse slate of speakers. Panelists include: Thomas Gilbert, J.D., M.A. Touchstone Intervention and Professional Services and a former judge; Darryl Lesoski, M.D and Director of Occupational Health for Munson Healthcare; and Donald Lawless, a Grand Rapids attorney specializing in labor and employment law. They will address issues including but not limited to employee advocacy, human resources, policy composition, prescription legality, and corporate liability. Michelle Socha, Michigan Works Business Liason said, "There will be a professional moderator, and a great deal of time devoted to questions and answers, so we are expecting a good exchange between attendees and the panel." Nate Capellupo is also a business liaison for Michigan Works and involved in the conference's organization. "We want to inform employers, satisfy curiosities and address possible areas of conflict," he said. "Things like zero tolerance versus legal descriptions are open to interpretation. We hope this will be a place to start dialogue for a variety of related and very real issues." "Employers are telling us they need to develop policies before something happens." Socha added, "The conference will offer practical ways to tweak or rework policies, based on current knowledge and law. We are looking forward to discussions that clear up issues with medical marijuana like its use as medication versus recreation." "We urge business owners, human resources managers, executives, attorneys and healthcare professionals to attend to increase their own knowledge about an issue that is in a state of flux," Capellupo added. Laraway-Gordon agreed. "It is all about knowledge," she said. "There are questions dealing with how long marijuana stays in the system and how it impacts performance and behavior on the job and when and why marijuana is prescribed. There are OSHA standards and general safety to consider." For more information and cost to attend the conference, call 231-922-3757 or visit www.nwm.org/ETC.asp. The conference is co-supported by TAHRA and area chambers of commerce. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake