At a state and federal level, marijuana laws continue to change across the U.S., and employers are finding it more difficult to keep up with the legal ramifications for their employees. It’s important for employers to remain up-to-date on the various laws for each state, understand how it will impact their employment screening processes, and when it’s a dangerous policy, speak out to their state and federal offices.
Let’s face it, the constant change in marijuana laws that vary state-by-state are just plain confusing! Below is a list of all proposed new marijuana laws as of August 2018:
See how drug use could potentially cost your company by using our Drug Abuse Calculator.
Individual State
Arizona
HB 2037: Recreational marijuana
California
AB 2069: Prohibits employers from discriminating against medical marijuana users or a medical marijuana user’s marijuana-positive drug test
Connecticut
HB 5111: Recreational marijuana
Delaware
HB 110: Recreational marijuana
Hawaii
HB 449, HB 1464, SB 548: Recreational marijuana
HB 1010: Prohibits employment discrimination based on a medical marijuana card
HB 1740: Would name marijuana as a prescription drug that employers could be required to furnish under workers’ compensation
SB 2220: Prohibits employers from suspending, discharging, or discrimination against a registered medical marijuana card-holding employee based on a marijuana-positive test
Indiana
HB 1041: Medical marijuana, allows employer to retain all testing rights
HB 1106: Medical marijuana, prohibits employment discrimination against medical marijuana users
HB 1177: Makes it illegal to screen employees and/or applicants for THC unless required to do so by federal law
SB 307: Medical marijuana
Kentucky
HB 166, SB 80, SB 272: Medical Marijuana
Maryland
HB 1496: Prohibits employment discrimination/penalization based on medical marijuana cardholder status
Massachusetts
SB 2488: Recreational marijuana
Minnesota
HB 926, HB 927, HB 2714, SB 1320: Recreational marijuana
Missouri
HB 1554: Medical marijuana
HB 1731: Recreational marijuana
Nebraska
LB 622: Medical marijuana
New Hampshire
HB 656: Recreational marijuana
New Jersey
AB 1348, AB 1557, AB 3581, AG 3819, SB 830, SB 2702, SB 2703: Recreational marijuana
AB 1838: Prohibits employment discrimination based on a medical marijuana card
AB 5097: Provides for workers’ compensation reimbursements for medical marijuana
New York
AB 3506, SB 3040: Recreational marijuana
AB 4560: A marijuana-positive drug test cannot be the determining factor as to if someone is under the influence at work or be the basis for a hiring action/disciplinary action
Rhode Island
HB 5555, SB 420: Recreational marijuana
HB 7899: Prohibits employers from refusing to hire, discharge, or discriminate against a medical marijuana user based on a marijuana-positive drug test
South Carolina
HB 3128: Medical marijuana
Virginia
HB 974, HB 1064: Recreational Marijuana
West Virginia
HB 3035, HB 4491: Recreational marijuana
Wisconsin
HB 1005
Prohibits employers from testing for tetrahydrocannabinols, synthetic cannabinoids, or analogs
Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017
Removes marijuana as a Schedule I substance, decriminalizes marijuana in states where it is legal
National/Federal
HB 6589
Removes limitations on federal employees who are individually using marijuana in states with legal marijuana
Marijuana Data Collection Act
Implement a federal study on the impacts of state legalized marijuana programs on the economy, public health, criminal justice, and employment
Marijuana Justice Act
Removes marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols from Schedule I, decriminalizes marijuana nationwide, etc.
CARERS Act of 2017
Compassionate access, extensive research, allows states to make own marijuana laws
SB 3174
Decriminalizes marijuana on a nationwide level
STATES Act
Amends Controlled Substances Act to allow states full control over medical and/or recreational marijuana with no input from federal entities
Implementing an effective drug testing program at your company helps keep your company safe, and DISA Global Solutions has the solutions you need. Make the most informed staffing decisions possible with our expanded drug testing panels and multiple testing methodologies. DISA provides employers a higher standard of testing that will ensure a safer workplace.
Are you an employer and still have questions regarding employment screening?
DISA can help! Get answers directly from DISA’s subject matter experts with ‘Ask DISA’
Visit www.askdisa.com to ask your questions today.
About DISA Global Solutions
Founded in 1986, DISA is the industry-leading provider of employee screening and compliance services. Headquartered in Houston, with more than 35 offices throughout the U.S. and Canada, DISA’s comprehensive scope of services includes drug and alcohol testing, background check, occupational health, and transportation compliance. DISA assists employers in making informed staffing decisions while building a culture of safety in their workplace.