AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Standards will be hosting a workgroup this year to study issues related to the Maine employee drug testing law and medical marijuana in the workplace. The Bureau has scheduled a number of meetings over the summer for presentations and discussions of research and selected topics.

This past Legislative session, the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development (LCRED) tabled the Department of Labor’s proposed changes to the existing workplace drug-testing statue in LD 1384, “An Act To Improve Workplace Safety by Simplifying and Improving Employers’ Substance Abuse Policy Requirements”, which was based on research and surveys conducted last year by the department. This extra time provides state officials and stakeholders with the opportunity to study additional concerns about marijuana, for both medical and potentially legal personal use, in relation to the workplace.

Meetings and research activities will be scheduled through the summer and early fall to develop recommendations on those policy issues to be brought to the Legislature in January 2016. The following meetings will be held at the Department of Labor offices at 45 Commerce Drive in Augusta:

June 16 – Study group planned activities and assignments, 9 a.m., Frances Perkins Room

July 1 – Medical and narcotic properties of marijuana, 9 a.m., SafetyWorks! Training Institute

July 14 – Exemption for employers with federal testing programs, 9 a.m., SafetyWorks! Training Institute

July 29 – Employers concerns/issues with medical marijuana in the workplace, 9 a.m., SafetyWorks! Training Institute

Aug. 11 – How to gauge impairment? Studies and options, 9 a.m., SafetyWorks! Training Institute

Aug. 18 – EAPs, substance abuse rehab programs, costs and options, 9 a.m., SafetyWorks! Training Institute

Sept. 3 – What is a significant first accident to determine probable cause? 9 a.m., SafetyWorks! Training Institute

Sept. 9 – Catch-up and Wrap-up, 9 a.m., Frances Perkins Room

Anyone interested in participating will be welcome. For further information contact Mark Dawson at (207) 623-7904 ([email protected]) or Amanda O’Leary (207) 623-7902 (Amanda.O’[email protected]).