Thirty-seven states now allow adults to use marijuana medically, recreationally, or both. But in most of those states, people can be fired or denied a job for using cannabis in their free time. Cannabis legalization advocates want states to do more to protect workers. They note that workplace drug tests don’t measure whether someone is high at the time of the test, just whether they’ve used recently. And they say workplace drug testing is an equity issue, as tests are more common in blue-collar jobs and disproportionately affect non-white workers. But certain employers are required to test for marijuana under federal law — the federal government classifies marijuana as a dangerous drug akin to heroin — and others want to make sure they don’t employ drug users who could threaten workplace safety. So far, 14 states and Washington, D.C., have banned employers from discriminating against workers who use marijuana for medical reasons. New Jersey and New York ban employers from discriminating against workers who legally use marijuana medically or recreationally. And Nevada bans employers from refusing to hire someone solely because they fail a marijuana test. The laws generally make exceptions for certain employers and occupations.
Sophie Quinton, stltoday.com | the #1 St. Louis website, 03/03/2022 09:43:00