Cannabis Testing for the Workplace and Its Future

While there have been some easements on the use of cannabis in certain places around the globe, that does not mean that every country has a legal platform for the consumption of cannabis. It follows into three categories; Countries that have legalized the usage of cannabis, countries that have made cannabis illegal, and countries that operate in a grey area without going in either direction. With that said, the testing of these substances is coming into question due to how this drug is treated amongst other stronger illicit drugs.

Cannabis is not just Marijuana

What the testing is currently doing is that it is looking primarily for THC in the bloodstream. When looking at many current laws, a certain percentage of THC is allowed from hemp-based products, whether it is a cream, drink, or supplement.

Cannabis testing can sometimes be too sensitive and even pick up levels of cannabis that may be legally ok but still come into question for the test. It is important that there is no stigma placed with this type of testing and to simply increase the threshold of the chemical limits.

How Covid has affected this

Drug testing is still a critical component, but it has not been able to evolve as fast as the laws are passing across the globe, and that is due to so many testing centers switching over to COVID testing and not many new types of drug tests being developed.

However, there is a switch to the privacy topic of urinary tests, and more straightforward tests are coming along the market for oral fluid testing. It is much easier alternative testing that, with the current overwhelmed trained professionals, can administer the process much simpler. It also allows professionals to come on-site and does not need employees to go to some off-site location either.

Why drug testing is still important

Many may take a more relaxed approach to drug testing beyond cannabis even and say to each their own. The pandemic has shifted people to a more remote working fashion while, at the same time, it seems as if there has not been a reduction in productivity.

Plus, it could cause more complications when working remotely in one country where cannabis is completely legal. Still, the company operates in a country with testing due to the illegality of cannabis and other drugs.

Also, testing should remain stringent for some professions where the job requires handling heavy machinery or the safety of others. This can range from government positions to those working in healthcare or transportation, construction, or even educating our future young ones. That is why there needs to be a balance of not the elimination of drug testing for cannabis but a simpler way to be able to manage it so that you can properly test for it without having false positives and losing out on quality candidates every single time.

When to test

Another concept here is when to test. Are we testing as part of the pre-employment process, or is there ongoing randomized testing? With the environment as is, where does the line get drawn when it comes to those who live in legal states or countries that can use as much cannabis within a threshold on their own time and when it is not during working hours?

Companies that do not find the right testing parameters and set it as a correct business need will find massive supply issues when it comes to potential employees. The best approach is to have that right balance of testing as is needed, keep the testing respectful of the right thresholds, and keep to a policy that makes sense and is not excessive.

When considering cannabis testing in the workplace especially in industrial and specialized industries and where safety requirements are high, the federal government has set parameters.  Those parameters which are in place only pertain to the current classification of marijuana which is a schedule 1 drug. As more and more states are looking to legalize recreational marijuana use, this can pose a real quandary for employers in relation to testing, but employees themselves need to be aware that their jobs are not 100% safe if they decide to partake in marijuana consumption as things currently stand.