Your Workplace and Medical Marijuana
Currently, with 14 US states that have legalized medical marijuana, there are probably hundreds of thousands of employers, who are wondering about ways to keep the workplace drug free and meanwhile provide an adequate environment for workers, which is taken up through cannabis treatment. In reality, the general cannabis topic is a mess. Federal authorities don’t want to move away from the position of ‘all marijuana is illegal’ and marijuana legal states have very different approaches to the issue. As such, there has never been a better time to review your company’s drug policy.
Here are some guidelines for major white spots:
For companies that work for the government, such as those with federal contracts, the directive document must be the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, which prohibits the use of marijuana in workplaces that participate in federal contracts.
The DOT – the Department of Transportation – also prohibits the use of marijuana for employees in so-called ‘safety sensitive’ positions, such as bus drivers, subway operators, truck drivers, armed transit security, ship captains, and pilots. This ban covers all states, including states that have legalized medical marijuana. So even if you have a marijuana card, but you have to fly a 757, you have to make sure that the effects of your medical marijuana have passed, when you get into your pilot’s seat.
Some attorneys advise treating cannabis treatment as if it were another prescription drug use, and workers can do so legally and safely. They claim that such an attitude could save employers money and time in a situation where medical marijuana is becoming increasingly accepted by society and legalized in more states over the next few years.
Different State – Different Legal Status
First of all, in legalized states, any patient who holds a marijuana card is protected from detention as long as they have maintained all the necessary documentation and have proof of a doctor’s approval for their marijuana treatment. But this is just the beginning.
In certain states, such as Rhode Island and Maine, you will not be discriminated against or fined for the use of medical marijuana, if you have a medical marijuana card.
Finally, don’t forget to thoroughly review your state’s laws and regulations, before using medical marijuana either at home or at work. Remember, CBD products are legal in the US, because they have no THC.