Marijuana laws and the workplace

What do I need to know about Marijuana Laws and the workplace?

The growing legalization and use of marijuana across the country have led to a push for the protection of employees who use marijuana when they are off-duty. This change has led to most states leaving rules and testing decisions up to individual companies.

What does this mean for Pre-Employment testing or employees using marijuana when they are not on the clock?

For the most part as long as employees...

• Are NOT bringing their medical or recreational marijuana to work
• Are NOT working in a job where their impairment may cause serious harm to others,
• Are NOT working in a federally related job

Employers can't take medical cannabis use or a positive drug test into consideration when making hiring and firing decisions.

What will this look like going forward?

More and more employers are choosing not to do drug testing. Or they may still do the typical 5-panel screen but ask the labs not to provide the results for THC (the psychoactive compound found in marijuana that affects a user's mental state).

It's still yet to be seen what all 50 states will end up doing, so it's still an ever-changing issue.