Although the House has postponed a vote that advanced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, employers should understand how the Act could impact hiring and workplace regulations. The MORE Act would federally decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act and would require the expungement of past federal cannabis convictions. The MORE Act would allow the Small Business Administration to provide loans and grants to cannabis-related businesses and support state and local equity licensing programs. Doctors also would be permitted within the Veterans Affairs system to recommend medical cannabis to patients. But a study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests that marijuana use could lead to an increased likelihood of workplace accidents, especially for those whose jobs involve driving vehicles. In order for employers to remain compliant with employee rights, they should work toward understanding federal and state legislature, as well as the legal risk of denying employment due to a positive drug screen for marijuana.
