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.