Support for legal cannabis has surged over the past few decades, with about 70% of Americans favoring legalization in recent years. Today, more than 50% of the U.S. live in states that allow the use of recreational marijuana. Fully illegal states have also relaxed sanctions so that possession of marijuana is treated as a low-level offense.
States such as California, Alaska, and Washington now allow adults to legally possess as much as one ounce of marijuana, with those living in states like Oregon further being allowed to grow up to 24 immature cannabis plants at once. By contrast, Idaho, Wyoming, Kansas, and South Carolina maintain stringent prohibitions with possession typically classified as a misdemeanor punishable by fines and jail time.
Workplace policies in multiple states are gradually providing protections for those who use marijuana. Almost 50% of companies do not test for cannabis in the hiring process. In fact, Nevada, New York City, and Washington have all passed marijuana state laws that banned pre-employment drug testing for marijuana to reduce discrimination. Although employers in several states may penalize workers for on-the-job impairment, they need to rely on evidence beyond a positive drug test as such results do not reliably indicate intoxication status.
As cannabis regulations continue to evolve across states and cities, employers are pressured to stay up-to-date with current policies while reducing discrimination against the use of marijuana in the workplace.
Source: US Drug Test Centers