As marijuana becomes legal in more states, many employers are ditching their zero tolerance drug testing policies. One example is AutoNation, the largest car retailer in the U.S., which stopped drug testing employees three years ago. The company is not alone. According to Quest Diagnostics, which conducts 10 million tests a year, employers in states with legal marijuana use have higher rates of worker positive tests than those in non-legal states.
In New York, employers are prohibited from administering marijuana drug tests. This prohibition applies to most workers, though it does not apply to certain categories of workers. Nevertheless, employers can still penalize discover more those who are impaired on the job even if they test positive. However, the new rules create a high threshold for proving impairment – for example, just the smell of marijuana is not enough evidence of impairment.
Colorado’s recent legalization of recreational marijuana led many employers to abandon their zero tolerance drug test policy. The decision was based on the state’s legalization of pot in 2012. While some companies chose to scrap the policy altogether, many still have federal contracts with the state and operate multiple locations. In such a case, it is important to note that companies with multiple locations and a high level of safety-sensitive positions will continue to follow their zero-tolerance policy.
The federal government’s new drug-use policy requires employers to test their workers for drugs and alcohol. Currently, it’s illegal to employ someone who has tested positive for marijuana while driving a vehicle. Under the new federal rules, employers must allow for the maximum amount of THC in a person’s blood, urine, or saliva. This means that a zero tolerance policy may be the only option for certain employers. But if the new law goes through, it will make random testing of employees easier.
Although this policy has become more common, the zero tolerance policy still has its downsides. Under the current federal regulations, safety-sensitive employees must be tested. Under the state’s rules, however, cannabis use off-the-clock should not be grounds for firing someone. If the new policy was to eliminate this test, it would have to be illegal to employ weed on the clock.
It is also common for employers to conduct random drug tests. Whether an employee has used marijuana can be a deal breaker. Several studies have found that one-third of employers do not consider it a deal-breaker. Additionally, many do not want to advertise that they are discriminating against a member of their workforce. It’s not uncommon for employees to test positive for cannabis, and the policy isn’t illegal in the state, which allows for a variety of employment situations.
In the age of legal marijuana, some employers have abandoned their zero tolerance policies. Amazon’s decision will be retroactive, meaning that employees who tested positive for the drug will be able to resume their jobs. Further, lawmakers in Washington and Colorado big bud autoflowering are adding language to their appropriations reports that allow employers to dismiss workers based on their drug use. In the meantime, the Office of Personnel Management has issued a memo to federal agencies saying that the policy is still appropriate.
In the age of legal marijuana, employers have no reason to continue requiring drug testing for marijuana. It’s not illegal, and it will not have an impact on your business. In fact, many employers have already dropped their zero tolerance drug test policy. But what about the federal government’s position? How does this impact their policy? Regardless of the employer’s policy, they shouldn’t be penalized for having a positive test.
In the age of legal marijuana, employers have dropped zero-tolerance drug tests. These policies still stand, however, because they are necessary to protect the public’s health. Despite these policies, it’s important to note that many employers still have zero-tolerance drug tests. Besides, it’s not illegal to smoke or consume a small amount of marijuana for medical use.