Preventing Human Trafficking + Avoiding Employee Abuse + CDC Guidelines + Marijuana Use

The U.S. Department of State estimates more than 24.9 million adults and children are subjected to human trafficking around the world today. Increasing awareness and educating staff on human trafficking (also known as modern slavery) is key to identifying this activity and understanding best practices.

...Human trafficking occurs every day and across every industry and geography, but the hospitality industry, with its unique combination of privacy and anonymity, is a frequent target. Hotels and motels can be especially attractive locations for trafficking, though human trafficking also occurs in all forms across all areas for the tourism industry—at sporting events and theme parks, on cruise ships and public transportation. Because of the elevated risk in these locations, it is imperative that staff members are taught how to recognize the signs and trained on appropriate next steps.

With the ever-changing landscape of marijuana laws, whether hotels should allow guests or employees to use marijuana may not be entirely clear. Currently, there are eighteen states plus the District of Columbia and Guam that allow recreational use of marijuana and nineteen other states that allow medicinal use. However, marijuana is still technically illegal under federal law and considered a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substances Act.

Many states have enacted laws that prohibit smoking in public places or the workplace. Accordingly, smoking marijuana in and around the common areas of a hotel would be prohibited by such laws. However, there is an expectation of privacy in a hotel room. So, can a guest smoke marijuana in a guest room? It depends.