Companies in the United States began drug testing employees in the 1980s, to reduce on-the-job drug use, decrease absenteeism, and ensure the safety and welfare of their employees and the public. Until recently, drug testing was an effective way to handle workplace drug use, but as more and more states legalize marijuana (or the medical use of it), positivity rates have increased (“Drug Positivity”). Employers and policy makers now have to address legalized marijuana use, the ethical and proper disciplinary actions to take for offenses, and construct and enforce clear policies, guidelines and testing methods to deal with the issues related to legal marijuana.
