Colorado Employment Law Blog

Medical Marijuana -- Do you want the Straight Dope?

Amendment 20, passed by Colorado voters in November 2000, authorized the use of medical marijuana for people who suffered from specific debilitating conditions.  But the law has been very controversial and several key legislators, including Colorado State Senator Chris Romer, have recently talked about new legislation to clarify the law. 

As noted in a recent article in the Colorado Springs Gazette (http://www.gazette.com/articles/warns-89680-laws-california.html), even authorities in California have some advice for Colorado legislators -- "[m]ake your laws as clear as you can, so that your executive and judicial branches of government can do their jobs as they are intended to," says Randy Mendosa, Chief of Police in Arcata, California.

For employers, there has been uncertainty about what obligations exists when an employee presents a medical marijuana card at work.  For the straight dope on medical marijuana in Colorado, check out this article by my partner Tobie Hazard. 

Cick here:  http://www.hollandhart.com/newsitem.cfm?ID=1557

Medical Marijuana -- Do you want the Straight Dope?

Amendment 20, passed by Colorado voters in November 2000, authorized the use of medical marijuana for people who suffered from specific debilitating conditions.  But the law has been very controversial and several key legislators, including Colorado State Senator Chris Romer, have recently talked about new legislation to clarify the law. 

As noted in a recent article in the Colorado Springs Gazette (http://www.gazette.com/articles/warns-89680-laws-california.html), even authorities in California have some advice for Colorado legislators -- "[m]ake your laws as clear as you can, so that your executive and judicial branches of government can do their jobs as they are intended to," says Randy Mendosa, Chief of Police in Arcata, California.

For employers, there has been uncertainty about what obligations exists when an employee presents a medical marijuana card at work.  For the straight dope on medical marijuana in Colorado, check out this article by my partner Tobie Hazard. 

Cick here:  http://www.hollandhart.com/newsitem.cfm?ID=1557

Obama Expands FMLA Coverage for Military Families Through 2010 National Defense Authorization Act

By Steve Gutierrez
November 10, 2009

On October 28, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (2010 NDAA). The new law includes an expansion of the Bush-enacted exigency and caregiver leave provisions for military families under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). These expanded military family leave rights are effective immediately.  To view the amendments, point your browser to http://www.hollandhart.com/newsitem.cfm?ID=1555

Obama Expands FMLA Coverage for Military Families Through 2010 National Defense Authorization Act

By Steve Gutierrez
November 10, 2009

On October 28, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (2010 NDAA). The new law includes an expansion of the Bush-enacted exigency and caregiver leave provisions for military families under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). These expanded military family leave rights are effective immediately.  To view the amendments, point your browser to http://www.hollandhart.com/newsitem.cfm?ID=1555

Employment Law Regulation Expanding

My partner John Husband was quoted in the Denver Business Journal discussing how expanding regulations are driving the focus of employment and labor law.  As he notes in the article, the specialty practice of labor and employment litigation is driven by an ever-expanding body of regulation, which creates a growing demand for attorneys in the field.  There are two segments of the specialty, and each has legislation either recently approved or pending that will dramatically change the rules of engagement.  In the employment law area, just check out the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, passed by Congress in response to the Supreme Court's ruling in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber.  As for Labor, the Employee Free Choice Act is still on the horizon. 

You can link to the Denver Business Journal article by following this link.  Click here to read more.  You can also connect to my article on the Employee Free Choice Act by clicking http://www.coloradoemploymentlawblog.com/colorado_employment_law_b/2009/04/the-employee-free-choice-act.html

Employment Law Regulation Expanding

My partner John Husband was quoted in the Denver Business Journal discussing how expanding regulations are driving the focus of employment and labor law.  As he notes in the article, the specialty practice of labor and employment litigation is driven by an ever-expanding body of regulation, which creates a growing demand for attorneys in the field.  There are two segments of the specialty, and each has legislation either recently approved or pending that will dramatically change the rules of engagement.  In the employment law area, just check out the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, passed by Congress in response to the Supreme Court's ruling in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber.  As for Labor, the Employee Free Choice Act is still on the horizon. 

You can link to the Denver Business Journal article by following this link.  Click here to read more.  You can also connect to my article on the Employee Free Choice Act by clicking http://www.coloradoemploymentlawblog.com/colorado_employment_law_b/2009/04/the-employee-free-choice-act.html