As the use of marijuana continues to rise — including among people 55 and older — and legalization trends continue, employers should be adjusting their focus on its use among employees.
That's according to a white paper from Lockton, which points out the simple fact of marijuana use is not necessarily a valid factor in hiring or firing decisions, or in how an employee's performance of his duties is regarded.
In fact, devoting more attention to employee performance indicators and training and hiring processes, rather than drug testing, will do more to keep employees safe in a changing climate of acceptance. The paper says drug tests, whether prior to employment or as a random screen approach, can be part of — but not the whole — approach.
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Since 28 states and Washington, D.C. have all legalized the use of marijuana either medicinally or recreationally to some extent, some adjustment in policies is necessary to promote a safe workplace.
In addition, it's necessary to understand how marijuana use affects employee performance — something that varies widely from study to study, and depends on a number of factors, including "alcohol use, gender, age, deviant aspects (social nonconformity, criminal behavior), socioeconomic status, mood, user expectations, weight, mental state, and manner in which the marijuana is ingested."
Employers should be approaching the issue not just from a drug testing standpoint, but also seek to understand whether marijuana affects an employee's ability to fulfill all job responsibilities; whether accommodations need to be made under the Americans with Disabilities Act; whether they themselves can recognize the signs of impairment resulting from its use; and whether there are alternatives to drug testing that can be utilized.
Employers also need to be sensitive to the question of whether they should ask about marijuana prescriptions, and methods to determine whether safety is at risk because of marijuana use either during or after work. Among testing procedures that can prove useful, particularly as alternatives to conventional drug testing, are psychomotor tests that can improve safety up to 82 percent, according to the paper, and can decrease accidents by as much as 50–75 percent, depending on the industry.
In addition, oral fluid testing via breathalyzers that can detect THC levels are in development and testing, and, according to the report, "will provide a new level of protection for employers."
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