The legalization of recreational and medical marijuana in more and more states is posing a quandary for employers. Traditional methods of drug testing can determine if someone has tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the marijuana ingredient that causes a “high” - in their system, but not when they ingested it. THC can be found for weeks in the blood and urine of regular users.
In states where marijuana is now legal, its use by workers during their non-work hours may not be a factor in their employment status – unless it interferes with workplace safety because it was used just prior to or during a shift. How prevalent is marijuana use among U.S. workers? According to an April 2019 Wall Street Journal article, it is at a 14-year high.