Maine dealers tackle marijuana use
The Retail Lumber Dealers Association of Maine outlined its 2018 legislative priorities during its annual breakfast at the Maine State House this morning. And getting a clearer picture of marijuana use is among those priorities.
RLDAM’s three priorities include, changing the state’s direct initiative process, standardizing and simplifying substance use policies and testing, and establishing training and youth minimum wage policies.
“The legislature exists for the purpose of creating laws and, more importantly, having public hearings to address the concerns and technicalities of proposals; direct initiatives circumvent this process,” said Rod Wiles, chair of RLDAM’s Legislative Committee. “The unintended consequences of passing marijuana legalization through a ballot initiative in 2016 are now being felt by the legislature and employers across the state.”
Ashley Ranslow, manager of government affairs for the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association said that “the legalization of marijuana has unintentionally complicated substance use policies and testing for small businesses whose employees work in safety-sensitive positions.”
Due to those complications, the RLDAM supports utilizing the same substance use testing policy for CDL and non-CDL employees, streamlining the current substance use testing policy approval process by the Dept. of Labor, and allowing for employees to pay their own expenses for treatment.
Ranslow added: “A streamlined substance use testing policy and approval process is a step in the right direction for employers to provide a safer and drug-free environment for all of its employees.”
Finally, the RLDAM strongly supports passage of legislation that enacts a training and youth wage, which would establish a training minimum wage for employees 18 to 20 years of age for the first 90 days of employment, and youth minimum wage for employees under 18 years of age.
“This common-sense proposal will ensure RLDAM members get the help they need during their busy times and provides young workers and students the opportunity to receive the training and on-the-job experience they need to have successful careers later in life,” Wiles explained.
RLDAM has 103 member companies and represents independent lumber and building material dealers, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and other associated LBM businesses in the state of Maine.
RLDAM’s three priorities include, changing the state’s direct initiative process, standardizing and simplifying substance use policies and testing, and establishing training and youth minimum wage policies.
“The legislature exists for the purpose of creating laws and, more importantly, having public hearings to address the concerns and technicalities of proposals; direct initiatives circumvent this process,” said Rod Wiles, chair of RLDAM’s Legislative Committee. “The unintended consequences of passing marijuana legalization through a ballot initiative in 2016 are now being felt by the legislature and employers across the state.”
Ashley Ranslow, manager of government affairs for the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association said that “the legalization of marijuana has unintentionally complicated substance use policies and testing for small businesses whose employees work in safety-sensitive positions.”
Due to those complications, the RLDAM supports utilizing the same substance use testing policy for CDL and non-CDL employees, streamlining the current substance use testing policy approval process by the Dept. of Labor, and allowing for employees to pay their own expenses for treatment.
Ranslow added: “A streamlined substance use testing policy and approval process is a step in the right direction for employers to provide a safer and drug-free environment for all of its employees.”
Finally, the RLDAM strongly supports passage of legislation that enacts a training and youth wage, which would establish a training minimum wage for employees 18 to 20 years of age for the first 90 days of employment, and youth minimum wage for employees under 18 years of age.
“This common-sense proposal will ensure RLDAM members get the help they need during their busy times and provides young workers and students the opportunity to receive the training and on-the-job experience they need to have successful careers later in life,” Wiles explained.
RLDAM has 103 member companies and represents independent lumber and building material dealers, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and other associated LBM businesses in the state of Maine.