Cannabis Business Coach — Are Companies Still Testing for Weed?

CSA Olmec
CSA Olmec
Nov 8 · 5 min read
Cannabis Business Coach Testing the buds Photo by Get Budding on Unsplash

So you’ve applied for a job in a new company got interviewed and you are qualified for the job. The interview went great, you actually aced it and it really looks like they want you on board.

A couple of days later, the hiring manager contacted you and told you that you’re hired. But here’s the catch, they will require you to take a drug test, which include cannabis. As a cannabis business coach, we’ve received reports about this scenario. And apparently, it is all very common even in states where cannabis is legal.

There are a lot of workers that are being disqualified from jobs just because of their cannabis consumption. And various business organizations are taking notes.

Most people in the workforce are finding it ironic that employers are allowed to test for and discriminate against marijuana consumers, even if more than half of America has already legalized some form of medical or recreational cannabis.

Fortunately, though, companies are now starting to reconsider their strict no marijuana policies. Instead of treating the plant along the lines of cocaine, they now see it as more of an alcohol.

So as long as workers are not drunk or high during their shift, they will not be fired for consuming alcoholic drinks or using marijuana outside of work. Now the question is — what’s the reason behind this change of perception towards cannabis.

Reasons Why Some Companies No Longer Test for Cannabis

Today, there are some companies that are changing their tunes on marijuana. It is understandable, considering these 3 major trends to consider. Check these out.

✓ The escalated number of states where there are some form of adult use and medical cannabis law are allowing individuals to consume marijuana legally. In these areas, there was an increase in positive marijuana drug test by 75%. In this note, employers have realized that there can never be an effective way to recruit for a job if people are being disqualified right off the bat.

✓ A record low unemployment rates for the past few years has been experienced by the United States. And this makes it very hard for employers to fill key positions. There were fewer individuals who consume cannabis that apply for work and this shrunk the job application pool too much.

✓ Higher approval ratings for marijuana are another factor that employers considered. The perception is continuously changing towards cannabis. More and more people are now starting to see this plant as a medicine or a supplement, instead of an illicit drug.

In other words, cannabis consumption and popularity are increasing. Hence, in order to expand the potential pool of workers, a lot of companies are now removing cannabis from the list of substances that can be a basis to disqualify a job applicant.

At this point, there’s no way to tell the exact numbers of companies that have lightened up on their no marijuana policy. Many of these employers never announced their decision publicly. However there are some high profile organizations that have made their new marijuana policy public and these include AutoNation, as well as the Denver Post.

Selective Drug Testing and Common Sense

Drug tests are expensive. Many companies cannot justify the expense any longer. Business are now less concerned with regards to responsible workers who are marijuana consumers working in low risk positions. This is a proof that times have changed.

Today, more and more companies are revising HR policies. They focus on drug testing programs, which aim to detect more harmful recreational drugs and prescription medicines.

Now, companies take a ‘don’t ask’, don’t tell’ approach, while other employers would ask their workers who test positive for marijuana to work with an employee assistance program.

As your cannabis business coach, we advise you to inquire about your employer’s cannabis policies. Doing this will prevent you from any surprises down the road.

Your Rights as a Cannabis Consumer at Work

According to legal experts, for most employees, there must be a valid reason to drug test a worker in good standing. This could be a work related accident, for example.

In addition, companies must honor your right to privacy with regards to how drug tests will be administered, why they are being done and how the results are documented and reported.

If you happen to be working in a high-risk and public safety jobs, there is a great chance that you will always be subjected to random drug testing.

Keep in mind, though, that those of you who are working in federally funded workplaces will most probably continue to cope with zero tolerance policies for the foreseeable future.

Tips for Passing a Drug Test for Cannabis

As a cannabis coach, how to pass a drug test for cannabis is one of the issues that our clients ask to us. Actually, as of now there is no hard and fast rule. However, a Harvard research and another intended to assist drug courts came up with almost the same conclusions. Check these out.

Most individuals who abstain for 30 days will pass a urinalysis test. On the other hand, new or occasional marijuana users often produce clean urine in less than 7 days.

Since there are still many business organizations that require pre-employment drug tests, abstaining for a minimum of one month, prior to testing is your best bet, if you are a job seeker.

Important Things to Keep in Mind Regarding Drug Testing at Work

In the workplace, it doesn’t matter whether you are a medical marijuana patient a recreational cannabis user. You can be fired for coming to work impaired or not passing a drug test.

As your cannabis business coach, we would like to remind you that the state Constitution’s right to privacy provides some protections. In general, companies must have a reasonable suspicion that you’re impaired in order to commence a random drug test.

If you want to learn more in-depth information about cannabis drug tests and pertinent details, ask our team of experts. Contact us now. You can call us at (800) 797–0790 or email us at info@ximura-consulting-llc.org

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