What Does Alaska’s and Oregon’s Legalization of Marijuana Change for Employers?

What Does Alaska’s and Oregon’s Legalization of Marijuana Change for Employers?

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 in Oregon,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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