As of January 1, 2024, California employers cannot make employment decisions based on an employee’s legal, off-duty cannabis use. They also cannot request information about a job applicant’s prior cannabis use. Constangy partners Keya Denner, Ashley Orler and Carolyn Sieve presented a webinar on Jan. 31 on California’s new cannabis laws that employers should be aware of. SHRM and HRCI credits were offered for this program.
Topics covered during the webinar included AB 2188 and SB 700, California’s new laws protecting off-duty cannabis use, employer drug-testing policies and practices, and how to identify and address on-the-job cannabis impairment.
To access a recording of the webinar, click the link below.
Keya is an experienced litigator who has been practicing labor and employment law for almost 20 years. Few attorneys nationwide match Keya’s expertise in the area of legal cannabis and its impact on the workplace. Keya serves as co-chair of the Cannabis & Employee Substance Abuse practice group and has a deep understanding of the various laws and issues surrounding the country’s rapidly expanding legal cannabis industry. Keya has counseled Fortune 500 companies in the retail, hospitality, and global logistics spaces to create compliant policies and better understand the ever-changing legal landscape brought about by the legalization of cannabis across the United States. Keya is a sought-after speaker and trainer on this topic.
Ashley serves as co-chair of the Cannabis & Employee Substance Abuse practice group. She partners with businesses to bring the best out of their workforce, applying a pragmatic approach to employment counseling in hopes of reducing risk to the organization. When counseling employers, she believes in establishing long-term relationships with her clients to fully understand the culture and goals of the business. On a daily basis, Ashley fields questions from clients across industries on issues like drafting employment contracts, policies and handbooks; onboarding and terminations; background checks and drug testing; employee classifications and leave requirements; and wage and hour issues. As the country’s cannabis laws change rapidly, Ashley has worked with employers to understand how these changes impact their workers.
Carolyn represents management in a wide range of matters including wage and hour disputes, class action litigation, wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment claims, and appellate matters. Carolyn also has extensive experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in contract disputes and trade secrets litigation. She has also defended corporate clients in litigation involving business torts, unfair business practices, and consumer class action claims. In addition to her litigation practice, Carolyn provides counseling and advice to employers regarding restrictive covenants and protection of trade secrets.