Meeting Recap for January 28, 2013
(Newest members Sig Lindley & Tia Gemmel)
Looking for a new employee? Getting lots of candidates who appear to have cancer (why else would they be using “medical marijuana”)? Do you have to hire them anyway? Not according to Jeff Hastings, co-owner of ARCpoint Labs and Rotary Club of Sacramento’s guest speaker Monday at the Red Lion Hotel-Woodlake.
Sacramento-based tech company Raging Wire, for example, recently had its right to deny employment to someone using “medical marijuana” upheld by the State Supreme Court. “It is a myth that you have to accommodate th
em,” said Hastings, who was introduced by Chair of the Day, Past President John Frisch. His company provides testing services for employers.
What you do need to do according to Hastings is to have a clear well-thought-out policy on drugs in the workplace, conduct training and educational sessions and do pre-employment testing. Why might you want to be cautious about hiring someone who tests positive for marijuana? The stuff is harmless, right? Less addictive than alcohol; Better for you than tobacco; or so they say. “There are a lot of myths about marijuana,” Hastings said. “First of all, there is no such thing as a prescription for marijuana. Doctors can’t legally prescribe it. “They can prescribe a drug called Marinol that relieves nausea associated with chemotherapy and helps patients regain their appetites. But Marinol doesn’t give you the “buzz.”
What about people who have medical marijuana cards (which enable them to purchase the drug in medical marijuana shops)? Hastings says most are just using them as “Get Out of Jail Free” cards.
“About 2% of them are actually seriously ill with cancer,” maintains Hastings. “On the other hand, more than 25% of them are less than 21 years old and unlikely to have cancer.”
So what’s the big deal? “Today’s marijuana is more powerful than the stuff some of you may have encountered in the ‘70s,” said Hastings. “It remains in the system up to a month.” “Testing has shown that memory; learning and attention span can be impaired for up to 24 hours. Do you want someone with poor judgment and distractibility driving your company car?” And there are significant health risks as well. “Today there are more young people in treatment for marijuana dependency than for other drugs and alcohol,” he said. “Thirty percent of teenagers admit they smoke it. According to Mr. Hastings, “It is more toxic than tobacco (20 times the ammonia), creates five times the risk for heart attack and has been shown to lower IQ eight points.”
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Ed Willey delivered a eulogy for long-time friend and 55-year RCS member Past President Carl Spilman, who passed away earlier this month. A memorial service for Carl Spilman will be held Thursday, January 31st, at Fremont Presbyterian Church at 3 PM.
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Rotarians Seifu Ibssa and Clayton Lee invited members to join them on a journey next September to help finish the water well project in the Ethiopian village where Ibssa was born. They are hoping to have eight to twelve people join in the international service project.
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President Peter Dannenfelser II inducted two new members into the club: Sid Lindley, insurance broker and co-owner of Thai Basil Restaurant (sponsored by Robyn DeLong and Marty Carling-Smith, and photographer Tia Gemmell, who rejoined under the sponsorship of Jan Stohr and John Swentowsky.
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District 5180 Governor Bob Deering visited the club Monday to invite members to the annual district conference in May. Details are available on the district website.
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Mike Miklaus provided the thought for the day, John McIntyre led the club in singing My Country Tis of Thee, Jack Cornelius sponsored the pre-meeting wine reception and Past President George Basye provided piano music.
