During the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s (FRLA) 2019 Marketing + Operations Summit, Carie Hall moderated while Sally Culley participated in a panel focused on laws and policies regarding marijuana usage in Florida.

The panel discussion included a review of the potential liability of those in the restaurant and lodging industry for not only employee usage of marijuana but also customer usage, how workers’ compensation carriers are addressing the increasing use of medical marijuana, and the impact of medical marijuana on Drug Free Workplace programs.

Some key points addressed:

• With the number of qualified patients with licensed prescriptions for medical marijuana increasing daily in Florida, it is important to consider the impact on developing hiring and operating policies for the restaurant and lodging industry.

• Businesses should know if they are required to accommodate medical marijuana usage in the workplace and how to handle this issue in post-accident drug testing.

About FRLA:

FRLA’s Marketing + Operations Summit was held August 13 – 14, 2019 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street. FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks and suppliers. The association’s mission is to protect, educate and promote Florida’s $111.7 billion hospitality industry which represents 1.4 million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of the membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected. For more information about FRLA, visit https://frla.org.