Washington Marijuana Employer Guidelines
“Recreational vs. personal” use of marijuana: We recognize that a majority of the country uses the term “recreational use” when referring to states that have legalized possession and use of limited amounts of marijuana for those over 21.Washington personal and medical use of marijuana.
Medical Use: Ballot Initiative I-692 was approved by 59% of voters in the November 3, 1998 election establishing the “Washington State Medical Use of Marijuana Act.” Nothing in this chapter requires any accommodation of any on-site medical use of cannabis in any place of employment, in any school bus or on any school grounds, in any youth center, in any correctional facility, or allows smoking cannabis in any public place. Employers may establish drug-free work policies and implement no accommodation for medical marijuana users. This also means that employers may refuse to hire applicants or discipline employees for testing positive for marijuana on a drug test which includes the use off duty.
Personal Use: Washington voters approved Ballot Initiative 502 in the November 2012 election. This act authorized the legal possession of up to 1 oz. of usable marijuana and up to 16 oz. of “marijuana-infused” products in solid form. It also allowed up to 72 oz. of marijuana-infused products in liquid form for anyone 21 years old or older.
For more information regarding marijuana at work, refer to Info Cubic’s Drug Screening compliance corner.