Something I see rarely talked about in the cannabis sector. The complete inability to bring my child to work in MA. Pharma has literal daycares on site. People run family businesses in liquor, firearms, manufacturing etc. Of all the things that make working in the cannabis sector painful - this is by far my number 1.
Lydia Hasson
3w
I worked for the University of Delaware for 11 years, through two pregnancies. I got 6 weeks off for both kids, then was penalized twice for "taking too long to pump" while breastfeeding my kids - that I was using my lunch break to accomplish. They also had a policy that you couldn't use your nearly unlimited sick time if your child was sick, you had to use vacation time. So when my youngest contracted pneumonia from RSV and was hospitalized for three days, that was considered "vacation time". All that while making, as staff that managed their financial operations and grant budgets, about as much as a McDonald's cashier. Sadly this isn't just cannabis - this country wants us all to work like we don't have families.
Kevin Taylor
3w
100% and the folks who freak out about this tend to have similar mentalities as the folks who believe drag queens are a danger to children. I always have to laugh at that because people don't take kids to drag shows and virtually every queer person I know would go out of their way to prevent harm to a child because we've been stigmatized for it in the past. I would argue the same applies to cannabis professionals. We've been stigmatized as a danger to children for so long that I think the majority of cannabis professionals are more likely to teach their children safe and responsible cannabis use which means waiting until they are old enough to handle it with maturity and perspective. There is absolutely a double standard here and as a queer person who survived the 90s I'm no stranger to double standards. Thanks for calling this out and don't stop speaking your truth my friend.
As a parent, I feel this at my core. We desperately need flexibility to manage the day to day unpredictability that comes with kids. As a business owner I think, “what would be the cost of flexibility in this setting?” The first thing to come to mind would be the potential increase in insurance premiums to cover risk of injury to a minor. I’m curious what those numbers would realistically look like… At the end of the day though, flexibility seems priceless to many…and I just like to play out the numbers in my head.
Hanna Weaver
3w
I shop with my kids at our dispensary, and thankful as a single mom. Unfortunately, I couldn't take my kids into a chemistry lab or electroplating manufacturing plant where I worked in their chemistry lab. Honestly, when I worked in credit Unions I also couldn't take my kids to work. Very unsure how this is a mm industry issue. Although, I get it as a scientist.. my kids want to go see the lab.. They can't.
Emma T.
2w
Yes yes yes yes yes. My previous job, my kids grew up in my office. It allowed me so much flexibility and honestly other great benefits. I also co-owned and operated a whiskey distillery before this, and my kids grew up there too - no regulations preventing them from hanging around stills or alcohol. My kids are older now and I don’t have a need to do this, but for every other parent of young ones operating in this industry; it’s silly. And it’s a huge barrier for working parents. And following up on your comment, yes, this isn’t about taking your kids to work every single day it’s about being able to handle one-off things that come up where you can do exactly that - come in to take care of something and plop your kid down in your office with a coloring book and a snack. Or to fill in those hour long care gaps that happen.
Matt J.
2w
Most people: "Um hey, yeah I have no problem reporting my income and taxes to you, but can I teach my kid about my business/life before we talk about taxes?!" Can I just teach my child about work/adult life? Why does the subject of my work change/alter the tasks at hand? I think you're raising a fair and equitable point here Anthony Brach.
This rule is from the Cole Memo days where the Feds stated they would not take action on states that legalized MJ. One of their rules was “no kids” so states followed suit with restricting access to 18+, 21 in most states. No real reason for it now.
Brett Yader
3w
My two kids have never been inside my dispensary. It’s insane.
SUCH a valid point. Another reason we need to keep working towards destigmatization and equity.
COO Local Roots of MA
3wTo expand on this - I mean they cannot enter the licensed premises under any circumstances. This is a CCC rule and a common rule in the greater cannabis industry nation wide, not a company policy. What this means is that if my wife goes out of town and I am the responsible party to the business operations during weekend, holidays or simply need to attend to a pressing issue I cannot bring my child to work to resolve the issue. I am not wanting to bring my kid to work on a regular basis. I am wanting the option that in the off circumstance I can plop my kid in my office with some coloring books and handle a situation.