“Employers convey to me continually, we have acquired work opportunities likely wanting, we can’t get the workers mainly because they can’t pass a drug screening and several other factors.”
By Rachel Mipro, Kansas Reflector
Kansas lawmakers claimed marijuana legalization, political stances and state funding were being prospective roadblocks in addressing the state’s significant workforce scarcity.
Sen. Virgil Peck, R-Havana, stated the Unique Committee on Workforce Advancement needed to converse about cannabis legalization just before lawmakers mentioned it in the course of the approaching legislative session.
Lawmakers handed a movement to make a suggestion that the legislature “proceed with caution” with marijuana legislation for the duration of the Monday committee listening to, by a 4-3 vote.
Peck brought up the challenge, stating the idea came to him previously in that day when using a shower.
“I didn’t imagine of it right up until having a shower this morning, about 7:30. It arrived to me that that plays into workforce improvement,” he explained.
Peck mentioned marijuana was a considerable issue in his component of the state, with employers not eager to seek the services of workforce who couldn’t move a drug check. He explained that cannabis was a safety legal responsibility, and could impede organization in which staff had to use hefty equipment and could be hurt.
“Employers tell me continually, we have received positions heading seeking, we can’t get the staff due to the fact they just can’t go a drug screening and numerous other issues,” Peck said.
Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Stilwell, claimed he agreed with Peck that people who imbibed marijuana could trigger challenges in the workplace.
Other lawmakers at the meeting said they weren’t capable to vote on the suggestion, as the issue had not been talked about in advance of the meeting. Sen. Brenda Dietrich, R-Topeka, abstained from the vote.
“I think my only worry is we’re inserting some thing that hasn’t been vetted in this committee at the previous minute,” Dietrich said. “And I recognize what you are expressing, it’s just not an proper situation for us to consider as a committee.”
Health care marijuana has prolonged been a controversial subject in Kansas, with lots of advocating for the drug as a agony relief substitute that is less addictive than opioids
Rep. Stephanie Clayton, D-Overland Park, opposed the advice, indicating that legislators did not have to be drug tested, so neither should Kansas employees.
“I do not like the idea of imposing a little something on the individuals, environment various regulations for us than them. So that is a large difficulty, and I also have considerations, because I think—in truth, I know, medicinal and recreational hashish will be beneficial to a organization development, in particular in the better Kansas City area, exactly where this is now legalized in Missouri,” Clayton mentioned.
This tale was 1st released by Kansas Reflector.
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