What Does Alaska’s and Oregon’s Legalization of Marijuana Change for Employers?
On November 4, Oregon, Alaska, and the District of Columbia became the latest
jurisdictions to pass referendums decriminalizing the recreational possession
and use of small amounts of marijuana. Oregon’s law becomes effective in July
2015; Alaska’s probably in February 2015.
Each of these laws is slightly different (read the full text here of the measures
inOregon,Alaska, and D.C.). Employers in all these jurisdictions are likely wondering about how does this
affect my company’s anti-drug policy or drug testing program? The short answer
is that none of these laws will change much for employers. The laws primarily
simply decriminalize the personal and private possession and recreational
use of small amounts of marijuana. They do not impose any new limits or obligations
on employers, or create any new rights for employees when they are at work.
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W. Barry Nixon is the COO, PreemploymentDirectory.com the leading background screening information portal and online worldwide directory of professional background screening firms and Suppliers to the background screening industry. He co-authored the landmark book, Background Screening & Investigations: Managing Hiring Risk from the HR and Security Perspective. He also is the publisher of award winning newsletters, The Background Buzz and The Global Background Screener, and the author of the Background Checks column in PI Magazine.
In addition, Barry is a past recipient of the elite ‘Top 25 Influential People in Security’ by Security Magazine and past Co-Chair, International Committee for the National Association for Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS). He currently serves as a Global Ambassador for NAPBS.
You can contact Barry at 1-949-770-5264 or online at wbnixon@preemploymentdirectory.com