In each state across the US, there are different policies and laws in place to regulate drug use. In order to keep up with these changes, in 2024, over 500 bills were introduced on the topic of drug testing. Currently, for employee drug testing specifically, 35 states deem the practice legal with caveats, 5 consider it legal, and 11 have no state laws on the matter. Especially with the boom in legislation legalizing marijuana usage in recent years, the landscape of employment drug testing is changing rapidly.
Over the past 5 years, positive marijuana tests have increased by nearly 50%. For safety-sensitive industries and workers who operate heavy machinery, this could have serious implications. In fact, recreational marijuana use laws are associated with a 10% increase in workplace injuries. In order to lower this risk, leaders are putting employment drug testing and anti-cheating policies into place. Taking these steps will help to ensure that everyone, especially vulnerable workers, are entitled to a safe and sober workplace. Industries leading the pack include energy, transportation, warehousing, manufacturing, wholesale trade and construction. These policies are also being implemented at a state level, changing the landscape of drug use and drug testing in the United States for the better.
Source: USDrugTestCenters.com