Employers Struggle With Cross-State Marijuana Legalization and Its Impact on Employment Drug Testing Practices
Marijuana continues to become more and more accessible throughout the US. With more states legalizing the drug, what should employers expect?
Study finds that the legalization of cannabis leaves companies split on how to navigate cross-state pre-employment drug testing
The results of a recent Health Street survey illuminate the ongoing, nationwide confusion regarding how marijuana legalization laws impact workplace drug policies, especially in an economy that relies increasingly on remote employees and cross-state hiring decisions.
Health Street surveyed 592 participants from locations around the country. Opinions on how companies should deal with cross-state marijuana usage laws proved highly divided.
One question asked whether it would be fair for a company in a state where medical marijuana is not legal to rescind a job offer of an employee who lives in a state where marijuana use is permitted, has a prescription, and fails a drug test as a result of it.
44% of the respondents thought rescinding the job offer would be fair, while 55% did not — an almost even split down the middle.
The dichotomy speaks to a larger lack of national consensus on how to handle cannabis legalization in an employment context. Alarmingly, the lack of clarity is putting employers at risk for discrimination claims and legal liability.
How Respondents Reacted to Cross-State Pre-Employment Drug Testing
When questioned whether a company should refuse to hire someone who uses medical marijuana, respondents had a range of varying opinions:
What an employee does before and after work is their own business. But if they come to work high or are getting high at work then that is an issue.
That person should look for work within his or her own state or in a state that does allow for such use.
I think people that have a disability have a right to use medical marijuana if they use it responsibly at work.
Regional Drug Testing Laws for Medical and Recreational Cannabis
Getting a better understanding of the legal drug testing landscape surrounding marijuana can empower employers to establish pre-employment testing and hiring policies. More accurate information can help protect both the company and the staff.
Recreational Cannabis Testing Laws
In the 10 states that have legalized recreational cannabis use, employers maintain the right to test for marijuana and take action against employees who test positive.
They do not have to differentiate between off-duty and on-the-job use in making these decisions, which, in any event, can't be done with current testing technology. They can continue to establish and follow zero-tolerance, drug-free workplace policies despite legalization.
Medical Marijuana Employment Rights and Protections
In 12 of the 33 applicable states, medical marijuana patients have additional protections by law that employers must abide by in setting drug testing policies.
When hiring employees in those states, you must ensure you do not discriminate against them for having a medical marijuana card nor fire them for testing positive for cannabis. However, you do have the right to fire workers who consume cannabis during work hours. Proving it is another matter.
Navigating Cross-State Testing
Marijuana remains illegal under federal law and remains listed as a Schedule 1 Substance by the DEA. This pits permissive state laws against the federal government.
Confusion arises for employers, particularly when making cross-state hiring decisions. What should employers do if a job candidate is a marijuana user based in a state that permits it, but the company is domiciled in another state where it is prohibited?
If you're an employer trying to understand the issues surrounding legal marijuana and employment drug screening, it's imperative that you think this through before crafting your drug testing policies.
It's important for employers navigating these murky waters to work with Medical Review Officers (MROs) who understand how to report marijuana use, particularly when the user has a prescription. These processes help ensure that your drug-free workplace policies do not leave you open to accusations of discrimination based on disability.
One option for employers is leaving marijuana out of your testing altogether. You can work with a drug screening company like Health Street, which recently rolled out a slate of standard drug testing panels that exclude marijuana.
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