{"id":1712,"date":"2018-09-12T14:52:06","date_gmt":"2018-09-12T14:52:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/?p=1712"},"modified":"2021-08-12T09:29:44","modified_gmt":"2021-08-12T13:29:44","slug":"weeding-non-compliant-suppliers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/blog\/weeding-non-compliant-suppliers\/","title":{"rendered":"Weeding Out Non-Compliant Suppliers"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, one of the seemingly unstoppable trends in the United States today is the increasing legalization of marijuana.<\/p>\n

Per an\u00a0article on Wikipedia, as of today, 31 of the 50 United States have legalized marijuana for medical use. \u00a0Furthermore, nine states have legalized marijuana for\u00a0recreational use.<\/p>\n

Yet, some organizations do not honor the legality of marijuana at the state level. \u00a0For example,\u00a0the National Football League includes marijuana on its banned list of substances. \u00a0Players who test positive for marijuana on two occasions are subject to suspension.<\/p>\n

In procurement, we sometimes require suppliers\u2019 employees to be drug free. \u00a0In such situations, if our suppliers\u2019 employees are subject to random drug tests per our contracts with them and an employee fails the test, there are consequences spelled out in those contracts. \u00a0The employee may be subject to dismissal. \u00a0The contract may be terminated. \u00a0Or, any other host of consequences could apply.<\/p>\n

But, as marijuana becomes increasingly accepted, this requires closer scrutiny of these supplier requirements and begs many questions. \u00a0Should marijuana be excluded from your\u00a0supplier code of conduct\u2018s banned substances? \u00a0Would contractual consequences apply if a supplier employee tested positive for marijuana but was using it for medical purposes? \u00a0Should legality of recreational use of marijuana in the supplier\u2019s state influence whether a supplier\u2019s employees may use it or not?<\/p>\n

Sometimes, procurement requirements need to be stricter than the law in a supplier\u2019s jurisdiction. \u00a0Other times, local law is an appropriate guideline for supplier behavioral expectations.<\/p>\n

But, there are two unflinching premises behind any decisions related to marijuana use in the supply chain or any other developing trend in society:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The world is changing: \u00a0Procurement needs to continually re-evaluate its practices based on where the world is today and where it is headed in the future.<\/li>\n
  2. Your organization\u2019s values should drive the values you require of your supply base. \u00a0Your organization may be a strong supporter of legalization. \u00a0Or, to the contrary, your organization may want its supply chain 100% free of substance abuse. \u00a0Either way, your procurement standards should never be in opposition to your organization\u2019s values.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Recommended Reading<\/b><\/p>\n