The railroad segment has experienced major upheaval in recent years as job cuts, low pay, and changes to terms and conditions led to disputes with railway worker unions and threats of a strike by railroad workers. This strike would have a significant impact on the country, affecting commuters, refineries, food producers and other industries that rely on the nationwide railroad network.
Last week, news of a tentative agreement between railways and unions indicated that the nationwide railroad strike may have been averted. However, according to a congressman known for his support of cannabis reform, the strike points to deeper labor and supply chain issues that need to be addressed right away. He noted that putting an end to cannabis testing policies could be a good first step toward resolving these issues.
During a recent appearance on a popular media house, Rep. Earl Blumenauer stated that railroad workers were facing an intolerable situation, noting that the new deal was welcome news. He explained that although railroad workers had specialized skills and traditionally received high wages, a gradual reduction of workplace benefits and job security had caused tension within the industry and could potentially exacerbate supply chain problems.
Blumenauer maintained that one solution to this would be to eliminate employment-related marijuana-testing policies, which prevented potential applicants from applying for railroad jobs and caused qualified employees to be terminated or penalized even when they were sober while on the job. A lot of the supply chain shortcomings are due to reduced employee intake, as marijuana testing policies disqualify individuals who have used cannabis in the previous six weeks even though they are qualified for the job. As a result, this increases the workload of qualified railroad workers who are already contending with eroded benefits and an extremely poor work-life balance.
Blumenauer also discussed a bipartisan cannabis research bill he’d sponsored, which had cleared the House a month ago. The measure is expected to advance through the Senate. The resolution, called the Medical Marijuana Research Act, would remove barriers to cannabis research and allow scientists to study cannabis without having to jump through the hoops required to obtain approval to conduct research on Schedule I drugs like cannabis.
This would in turn allow for the development of more accurate cannabis testing technology and make it possible to determine active cannabis impairment, something we can’t do with the technology at hand. Accurate THC impairment technology could theoretically allow employers such as railway companies to update their policies and allow off-duty cannabis use as long as workers are not impaired while on the job.
The marijuana industry is also facing its own supply chain issues, and it is up to companies such as Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) to find ways to navigate the challenging economic conditions.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/FLGC
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