By now, nearly half of the states that comprise the U.S. have legalized medical marijuana use; however, cases like Coats v. Dish Network have proven that a medical marijuana ID card will not protect you from receiving the dreaded pink slip.

Regardless of the specific state’s stance on cannabis—legal, illegal or only legal for medical use—an employer is allowed to terminate employment if the individual fails an employee drug test. Why? As much as it may be legal in the eyes of the state—in the eyes of the federal government, it’s still illegal. And because of that, there is no protection under Statutes that are meant to prevent employers from firing an employee for lawful activities performed off the clock.

With an overwhelming majority of substance abusers listing themselves as employed and the large percentage of worker’s comp cases that involve employee drug use, it is imperative that companies be proactive in developing a firm stance on drugs in the workplace and ensuring that the appropriate employee drug screenings take place.

For more information on drug testing in the workplace, read Best Practices for Workplace Drug Testing.

To receive more information on integrating an effective employee drug screening program, contact eVerifile today.