Countless American employees live in fear of losing their jobs as a result of testing positive for marijuana. With numerous states legalizing pot for medical and recreational purposes, the question of whether employers can base hiring and firing off the use of marijuana is certainly called into question. In Florida, though, employers can still fire their employees if they test positive for using marijuana. However, this differs from state to state. Whilst cannabis might be illegal in Florida, it has been legalized in states like California. This means that those employed in California wouldn’t have to worry about failing one of these drug tests. As long as they abide by the California METRC system, people living there are able to enjoy marijuana or cannabis whenever they want. States like Florida, however, still see the drug as illegal.
AutoNation, a Fort Lauderdale-based car seller, has taken a different stance on the matter. The car seller, which has over 26,000 employees throughout the United States, has officially changed its policy regarding marijuana — saying that its employees are free to use the substance.
AutoNation is not alone. Numerous corporations throughout the United States are choosing to ignore the results of a failed drug test when it comes to marijuana. Other companies have simply stopped testing for drugs completely.
The move makes sense, considering that 29 states, including the District of Columbia, have legalized medical marijuana and nine states, including the District of Columbia, have legalized recreational pot. However, other drugs detected on the Countrywide Testing results will likely still be highlighted and cause issues.
Employers are also loosening their standard regarding marijuana use because of the tight labor market. Corporations want to hire the best talent available, and many of these individuals might happen to be marijuana smokers. And in some cases, these marijuana smokers may have received a medical marijuana card from somewhere like Green Health Docs Huntington, to help manage a health condition that is severely affecting their life, like chronic pain. It has been known to work, and if smoking this substance can help them to work to their highest ability, then it shouldn’t be called into question. The AutoNation CEO said, “We are looking to attract talent to our company, and putting this barrier in place, that’s not where society is at today.” He also echos a popular sentiment stating that marijuana is often misunderstood due to actions of the past. Employers are trying their best to understand and learn more about marijuana and its many positive qualities, especially in terms of health and wellness. They are exploring a variety of resources (some of which you can Click here to see) to better understand and educate themselves on the different uses of marijuana and how it can be a positive stance for their company.
Florida employees who are trying to determine whether their employers will allow workers to smoke marijuana may want to look into the employment contracts and corporate policies that govern them at their workplaces. When it comes to the safety of one’s employment, this is one area of the law that necessitates prudence and caution.
Source: Sun Sentinal, “Test positive for marijuana? AutoNation won’t throw out your resume,” Marcia Heroux Pounds, Feb. 02, 2018
