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Drug Trends for 2020

How Marijuana is Affecting Drug Laws in 2020  

Drug-related laws are constantly changing and evolving, especially with so many states adopting new laws related to the use of marijuana for both recreational and medicinal purposes. In 2018, the sales of cannabis amounted to nearly 10 billion U.S. dollars, with an expected 14.5 billion in 2020. The forecasted sales of cannabis in 2025 are trending to be at 23 billion U.S. dollars. It goes without saying that these trends will have an impact on every professional screener’s business. Remember, it is your responsibility to stay up to date on law changes to protect you and your clients from the potential of time-consuming disputes and litigation.  

The Drug Screening Process 

Drug testing is an evaluation to determine if the subject has been using drugs that are in question. There are many reasons drug testing would be implemented, such as pre-employment, post-accident, safety or random. The evaluation will be completed with a biological sample using urine, blood, saliva or hair. Drug testing is often done when applying for an employment position, especially one that involves transportation, airline, hospitals, and caregiving or safety related. 

Typically, with workplace testing, the applicant is notified of the pre-employment screening that is part of the application process. There will be a timeframe set for the consumer to go to the laboratory to submit the sample. Most employers will use a standard 5-panel test, and some may elect to use a 10-panel test. During the process of the drug testing, there is a legal procedure requiring documentation of who handles the specimen through the entire process, also known as Chain of Custody. Workplace drug testing is important to maintain an effective and drug-free zone. This includes DOT regulations and the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988.  

Changes to Be Aware Of in 2020  

There is no federal law that prohibits an employer to drug test an employee. However, it is important to familiarize yourself with the various state laws. Laws differ from state to state, particularly the ones that have legalized medical marijuana and recreational use. Drug use is still illegal under federal law and there is a robust list of new drug laws per state. Drug use and workplace laws are always evolving. Currently, 33 states allow medical marijuana and of those 33 states, 11 of them and DC allow recreational use. The legalization of marijuana and associated laws is an ongoing topic. Here are the most recent drug change trends:  

New Jersey Law  

  • Effective July 2nd, 2019- The New Jersey state medical marijuana law was amended. It now prohibits disciplining or terminating solely based on being a registered medical marijuana user. It is still permissible for NJ employers to prohibit it during work hours or on company premises. Employers must give employees written notice if they test positive for marijuana. They then have 3 working days of receiving the letter to prove a legitimate medical reason or ask for a retest.

Nevada Law 

  • Effective January 1st, 2020- Nevada law went into effect that bars employers from considering pre-employment marijuana testing. Employers can no longer take action if an employee submits a drug test that is positive unless it is for a safety-related position. This law also gives an employee the right to submit an additional drug test within the first 30 days of employment to rebut the results of the initial one. 

Illinois Law 

  • Effective January 1st, 2020- The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act went into effect but passed on June 4th, 2019. Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational use of marijuana and possession for adults over 21 years of age. Their lawmakers approved that employers can conduct reasonable drug tests, including random and may discipline. But marijuana is considered a lawful product under the Illinois Privacy Act. 

Federal Changes 

  • Effective January 1st, 2020- The Department of Health and Human Services approved the use of oral fluids for Federal drug testing programs.
  • Effective January 6th, 2020- The Department of Transportation Clearinghouse rule started. All FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) covered employees must use the clearinghouse to report drug and alcohol violations and are required to revise policies and list that it now gets reported to the Clearinghouse.

New York Law 

  • Effective May 10th, 2020- New York law will prohibit employers from conducting pre-employment marijuana tests. The law will not apply to certain jobs such as police officers, commercial drivers, caregivers or a job that has a significant impact on health and or safety.

Discrimination Law 

More and more states are passing laws that will prohibit employers from discriminating against employees because they are authorized, medical marijuana participants. Reasonable accommodation may not always be available, but employers should make a good effort to find one. The determining factor on how to proceed with something like this varies upon the state laws. The current states that prohibit discrimination against medical marijuana users are Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. In Nevada and Maine, a school, employer or landlord may not refuse or penalize a person of 21 years or older. San Francisco, California has been protected from discrimination since 1985. The states of California, Colorado, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, and Oregon can fire an employee for testing positive even if the event was off-duty or for medical purposes. 

Positive drug tests have reached an all-time high and urine positive tests alone jumped from 4.2% to 4.4% in 2018. Post-accident positive drug tests have also increased and jumped 81% between 2014 and 2018. As marijuana use becomes more common, future testing will likely involve impairment levels much like a breathalyzer for alcohol. It is important to stay on top of the state to state laws and the constant changing of laws relating to drug testing. 

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