For those who have taken full advantage of the fact cannabis is now legally available for purchase at your nearest dispensary, provided you are at least 21, a word of caution: you still can be arrested for possessing the drug. In order to avoid a charge of unlawful possession while driving or worse (e.g., DUI), cannabis must be “reasonably secured, [in a] sealed container and reasonably inaccessible while the vehicle is moving”. In other words, after purchasing cannabis from a dispensary, the drug should remain in the sealed container until you return home.
Read MoreGet Down to Business is a weekly radio show on AM560 that profiles Chicago area small business owners and entrepreneurs. The host of the radio, Shalom Klein, has a particular penchant for interviewing business owners who have a unique story to tell or business to promote.
Read MoreAs the initial hoopla surrounding the legalization of cannabis has died down, the conversation has shifted to more practical considerations raised largely by employers and employees alike: What workplace drug policies should employers adopt? Does my employer get to fire me if I test positive for marijuana, even if I used it during non-work hours? As I noted in a previous posting on the cannabis law, the legislature did not place any restrictions on employers’ ability to impose drug-free workplace policies or, for that matter, be required to make exceptions for medical marijuana users under these policies.
Read MoreIn early January, I published my first of several articles to come on Governor J.B. Pritzker uses his clemency authority. I waited to post my article until I was confident that I had all the information about what clemency actions were taken by Gov. Pritzker in 2019. I have since learned I was wrong.
Read MoreIn 2018, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) conducted a survey on employer attitudes towards hiring individuals with a criminal record. In its published findings SHRM reported that HR professionals expressed a greater willingness to hire someone with a criminal record. Yet the same survey found that only 32% of those polled had a formal policy facilitating such hiring decisions.
Read MoreWhat can Happen when an Employment Background Check Gets the Facts Wrong. Today, close to 90% of employers check to see if a new employee has a criminal background. Sometimes these reports contain inaccurate information. What you can do to fix this.
Read More