Marijuana laws are ever-evolving on both the federal and state level, causing many employers to re-evaluate their drug testing policies. The following are some of the considerations that businesses should make while reviewing how they use occupational health screenings.
Marijuana laws are ever-evolving on both the federal and state level, causing many employers to re-evaluate their drug testing policies. The following are some of the considerations that businesses should make while reviewing how they use occupational health screenings.
The first thing to consider is that, as of now, cannabis remains a Schedule I drug on a Federal level. While this may conflict with some state laws, it means that employers are still within their right to prohibit it if they wish. However, some caution is necessary due to the rise of state laws, local ordinances, and court rulings favoring employers. Businesses and organizations should always consult with a legal advisor when setting their drug testing policy.
Next, employers must evaluate where their company stands on the matter of cannabis use. Some organizations take a zero-tolerance stance or prohibit everything except off-duty medical marijuana use that doesn’t impair their on-duty performance. Other groups may split positions into “safety” and “non-safety” roles and create separate policies for each.
Whatever the policy may be, it must be written and communicated clearly. All employees should understand which positions require drug testing, which may be tested when, the penalties for failed tests, and which accommodations their employer is willing to consider. Likewise, supervisors should be carefully trained on how to respond to potential substance impairment on the job.
Finally, employees should partner with an occupational health screening company they can rely on for accurate results and efficient testing. Working with an experienced organization like us at CredentialCheck simplifies the process for both routine pre-employment screening and random drug tests. Likewise, we have the capacity for thorough screenings beyond just marijuana tests.
