More and more people think that marijuana is legal in the state of Arizona, but it’s not a black and white issue. There are shades of grey that could cause problems in the workplace.
Cannabis is considered a controlled substance under federal law, but Arizona allows it for medicinal purposes. You must have a valid Medical Marijuana card to possess, sell and/or use cannabis. Otherwise, if you fail a drug test at work, you can be terminated.
There are exceptions in the workplace that could cause a valid, card-carrying employee to be terminated. For example:
- If an individual is suspected of being impaired at work, the employer may require a drug test. In this circumstance, a positive test could result in termination.
- Employees in safety-sensitive positions should not consume any controlled substance, whether it’s legal or not. Medical Marijuana users who apply for safety-sensitive positions will be rejected even if they have a valid card.
- Also, an employer with a federal contract could lose its service status for not complying with federal law since marijuana is considered a controlled substance under federal law.
Navigating the intricacies of Medical Marijuana in Arizona can be tricky.
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