Employers are trying to bolster workplace safety as the use of marijuana rises and more states legalize the recreational use of cannabis. (The latest state to do so is Minnesota, effective Aug. 1.) Training to help managers recognize the signs of cannabis use and policies barring the use of cannabis during work hours can help prevent accidents.
The number of post-accident drug tests that came up positive for marijuana grew 204 percent from 2012 to 2022, according to research from Quest Diagnostics, coinciding with a trend of more states legalizing recreational cannabis use. But confirming whether an employee is under the influence of cannabis is tricky, as no drug test detects current cannabis use and state laws vary as to what types of testing are lawful.
