Colorado’s Recreational Marijuana Crosses into the Workplace

(Fall 2016) Once the Centennial State gave a nod to recreational marijuana in 2012, Colorado’s positive workplace test rates for the drug jumped from a pre-legalization rate of 6% to 20% in 2013. Experts are weighing in on the spike, saying that companies are not adequately educating employees about the dangers of drug use while on the job. Concerns surrounding illegal drugs in the workplace include safety issues, higher rates of absenteeism, drug deals between employees, and theft to perpetuate a drug habit.

Employers in Colorado with strict zero-tolerance programs have succeeded in court cases brought against them by employees terminated for positive marijuana tests. However, in an interesting twist, the Society of Human Resource Management discovered after a recent survey that organizations adhering to a zero-tolerance policy in the face of legalized recreational marijuana have actually softened their stance. Why? Because many employees’ tests were coming back positive.

Issues with marijuana and the workplace are not confined to Colorado. Among the nation’s employees, positive urine tests for the drug increased by 5% in 2013 and an additional 14% in 2014.

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