Sessions

Over the last decade, there have been significant changes in state laws dealing with marijuana. At first, marijuana was decriminalized in some states. Then, medical marijuana was legalized in some states. Next, recreational marijuana was legalized in a few states. Now, a majority of states have legalized marijuana in one form or another. At the same time, the country has experienced an opioid crisis. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently issued guidance on how employers and health care providers should handle applicants and employees who are using opioids legally or who have a history of and treatment for opioid addiction. Employers have scrambled to update their drug and alcohol policies and testing procedures, but many still are unsure about how to proceed.

OBJECTIVES

• Explore the current legal landscape of marijuana laws.
• Review the EEOC’s guidance on drug testing and opioid use.
• Discuss pitfalls to avoid and best practices to consider.