Every now and then, somebody asks about our position on marijuana.

The answer is probably less dramatic than some people expect.

We're not trying to save the world.

We're not trying to police the private lives of adults.

We're not interested in political arguments.

We're interested in safety, professionalism, accountability, and good judgment.

That's it.

We Follow the Law

Two Marines Moving operates in multiple jurisdictions.

Different states have different laws.

Our expectation is straightforward:

Follow the law.

If you're representing Two Marines Moving, we expect you to comply with the laws and regulations that apply where you're working.

That's part of being a professional.

We Follow Federal Regulations

Some positions have additional requirements.

CDL drivers are the obvious example.

Federal regulations are federal regulations.

We comply with them.

There is no debate.

There is no exception.

There is no "company opinion" that overrides federal law.

If federal regulations require testing, we comply.

That's part of operating a professional transportation company.

We Expect Employees To Show Up Sober

This is where things become very simple.

We expect employees to show up sober.

We expect employees to be fit for duty.

We expect employees to work safely.

We expect employees to make good decisions.

We're moving families.

We're moving furniture.

We're moving safes.

We're moving appliances.

We're driving trucks.

We're carrying heavy objects through homes, around children, pets, stairs, and expensive belongings.

Safety matters.

We Drug Test After Serious Injuries

Safety is not a slogan.

It's a responsibility.

As part of our safety protocols, serious workplace injuries may result in post-incident drug testing.

That isn't about punishment.

It's about accountability.

It's about determining what happened.

It's about operating responsibly.

Professional companies take workplace safety seriously.

We do too.

We Don't Want Employees Smelling Like Marijuana

Let's also be honest.

Clients are inviting us into their homes.

Professional appearance matters.

Professional conduct matters.

Professional presentation matters.

We don't expect employees to show up smelling like marijuana.

Just like we wouldn't expect them to show up smelling like they spent the previous evening swimming in whiskey.

Clients notice.

Coworkers notice.

Professionalism matters.

The Military Exception

As a Marine Corps veteran, there is one area where my thinking may differ slightly from others.

When I served, the rules regarding marijuana were crystal clear.

Everyone knew the rule.

Nobody was confused.

There was no gray area.

For that reason, if someone tells me they were discharged from military service because of marijuana use, I pay attention.

Not because I'm making a moral judgment about marijuana.

Because I'm evaluating judgment.

The issue is not marijuana itself.

The issue is knowingly violating a well-known rule and suffering predictable consequences.

To me, that's a yellow flag.

One yellow flag does not disqualify someone.

People make mistakes.

People grow.

People mature.

People learn.

But multiple yellow flags become a pattern.

And patterns matter.

We Don't Hire Perfect People

I've never looked for perfect people.

Perfect people don't exist.

I don't hire saints.

I hire Moving Professionals.

I hire drivers.

I hire team leaders.

I'm looking for good people.

Reliable people.

Accountable people.

People who show up.

People who work.

People who can be trusted around clients.

People who can be trusted around teammates.

People who make good decisions most of the time.

That's the standard.

Casual Use Is Not the Same Thing As a Lifestyle

This is where I think a lot of discussions go off the rails.

There is a major difference between:

• Someone who tried marijuana years ago.
• Someone who occasionally uses marijuana legally and responsibly in their private life.
• Someone whose entire identity revolves around marijuana.

Those are three very different people.

When people say "pothead," they are usually not talking about the first person.

They are not even necessarily talking about the second person.

They're talking about the third person.

The person whose entire personality revolves around weed.

The marijuana shirts.

The marijuana hats.

The marijuana stickers.

The marijuana jokes.

The marijuana conversations.

The marijuana memes.

The marijuana social media posts.

The person who somehow manages to bring marijuana into every conversation.

At that point, the issue isn't marijuana.

The issue is obsession.

We Aren't Building a Marijuana Culture

The culture at Two Marines Moving is built around:

• Client service
• Accountability
• Teamwork
• Professionalism
• Leadership
• Responsibility
• Safety
• Profitability

That's what we talk about.

That's what we reward.

That's what we celebrate.

No methheads.

No crackheads.

No potheads.

Not because we're trying to be judgmental.

Because we aren't building a culture around substances.

We're building a culture around performance.

Quite frankly, we employ current and former members of law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels.

We employ veterans.

We employ first responders.

We employ people whose professional identities are built around service, responsibility, and accountability.

That's simply a better culture fit for who we are.

And yes, given the choice between an average deputy sheriff and an average pothead, I'm choosing the deputy every single time.

Not because of marijuana.

Because of what each person's priorities are telling me.

Final Thoughts

Our position is actually very simple.

We follow the law.

We comply with federal regulations.

We expect employees to show up sober.

We expect professionalism.

We expect good judgment.

We expect employees not to smell like marijuana while representing the company.

We don't judge people solely by mistakes from their past.

But we do pay attention to patterns.

Most importantly, we're looking for people whose identities are built around responsibility, accountability, teamwork, and performance.

Not substances.

That's how we've always looked at it.

And that's how we'll continue to look at it.

Semper Fidelis,
Nicholas Edmond Baucom
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Two Marines Moving

Marine Combat Veteran Founded & Owned Since 2008. Industry Leading Pay. Moving Done Right. Join the Mission.