Marijuana at Work: What Employers Need to Know

Legalization of marijuana – whether for medical or recreational use – is rolling out across the country. It's having an enormous impact on employers, who now have to ask:

• How is marijuana use impacting safety on the job?
• Can an employee file a discrimination lawsuit if medical marijuana use doesn't align with our organization's drug policy?
• How is legalized marijuana affecting the bottom line?
• What does a defensible drug policy look like today?

How Does Marijuana Use Impact Job Safety?

THC in marijuana affects depth perception, reaction time, coordination and other motor skills, and it creates sensory distortion. For someone operating machinery, driving a forklift or delivering products in a vehicle, these effects can be deadly.

According to a study reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, employees who tested positive for marijuana had 55% more industrial accidents, 85% more injuries and 75% greater absenteeism compared to those who tested negative. Also impacting the bottom line are:

• Decreased productivity
• Increased worker compensation and unemployment compensation claims
• High turnover
• Lawsuits

Finding a Sober Workforce

Employers in safety-sensitive industries are more likely to have zero-tolerance policies when it comes to marijuana use, and new state marijuana laws are making it more difficult to find workers that meet strict drug-testing criteria, according to the Society for Human Resources Management. One construction company in Colorado has had to look out of state to find drug-free workers.

Marijuana is the most frequently used illicit drug of abuse in the United States and the drug most often detected in workplace drug testing. In 2016, about one in five (7.2 million) Americans ages 18 to 25 self-identified as current users of marijuana, and about 15.2 million adults (7.2%) ages 26 and older used marijuana, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

A solid workplace drug policy can go a long way to keeping your organization drug-free.

What makes a good drug policy?

Studies show drug testing works; employees are three times less likely to produce a positive test result if they know they will be tested. An expanded testing panel that also includes the most commonly misused prescription drugs may better protect your workforce. An employer policy also should include:

• Proper management training to make managers more likely to enforce the policy
• Access to support for employees with drug problems, which can range from a formal assistance program to a referral to local resources
• Clearly defined use and possession parameters for employees
• Established rules for post-accident testing
• Rules on how you will handle an employee's conviction or arrest

A drug policy must be very specific and supported by workplace procedures to reduce the chance of litigation. Drug policy and workplace procedures should be reviewed by a lawyer to ensure they comply with state laws. And, policy must be updated frequently to keep up with changing laws and attitudes. The health and safety of your workforce depends on it.