LANSING – ASE continues to get member inquiries about substance abuse testing and policies. A recent article by the Washington Examiner says interest in relaxing strict employer policies against employee marijuana use is going on across the country.  Where marijuana is legal recreationally, such as in Michigan, employers are asking whether it’s worth continuing pre-employment and other testing for marijuana use. Amazon has eliminated marijuana from its drug testing and is treating marijuana use the same as alcohol.

Currently there are 37 states plus the District of Columbia that have legalized marijuana for medicinal use and there are 18 states that have legalized it for recreational use.

This relaxation of marijuana use policy and testing depends upon the business. Certain industries such as construction or heavy manufacturing as well as federal government contractors are maintaining strict drug free workplace policies. This too may change. Congress is contemplating legislation that will lift the federal prohibition of marijuana. No less than Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is behind this federal legislative initiative to catch up to the many states that have changed their marijuana laws. Currently marijuana is listed as a Schedule 1 drug by the federal government – the same as LSD, heroin, and other narcotics.

To read more, click on https://www.sbam.org/with-legalized-marijuana-has-your-organization-rethought-its-drug-testing-policies/