Ep. 41 - Cannabis Legalization: What Employers Need To Know (Part 2)

Cannabis users are both considered criminals and protected under federal laws.  What a mess.  One of the most significant issues surrounding cannabis use, especially in states where medical marijuana is legal, is the ability to use state-sanctioned medical marijuana, which is typically protected under disability laws, but yet can also be punitive as employers are allowed to terminate employees for cannabis use. Another pressing concern is how workers’ compensation activities will be affected by an employee’s medical marijuana use. 

In this episode of Cannabis Nurse Truths,  we continue to review how privacy laws, medical freedom, and workers’ compensation issues all have a significant impact on employers’ workplace policies, and we offer recommendations that employers should begin to consider as cannabis legalization is likely implemented in the near future. 

EPISODE RESOURCES

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Carnide, N., Lee, H., Frone, M.R., Furlan, A.D., & Smith, P.M. (2021). Patterns and correlates of workplace and non-workplace cannabis use among Canadian workers before the legalization of non-medical cannabis. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 218, 108386. https://oem.bmj.com/content/oemed/79/12/824.full.pdf  

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