Is It Still Worth It to Get a Pre-Employment Cannabis Test?

Pre-employment cannabis test: is it still worth it?

For years, most employers and employees assumed that a clean drug test was a requirement for hiring. These pre-employment drug tests included a list of banned substances and almost always included tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis. At the best addiction treatment center in pakistan we have discussed things about this matter and we got to the conclusion that companies must do the test before hiring. But times have changed for cannabis - both socially and legally. These changes raise the question: is cannabis still worth controlling? Perhaps even more troubling is the question of whether such testing is even legal?

In addition to medical cannabis, which is legal in 37 states, recreational cannabis is now legal in 18 states and the District of Columbia. Considering that just ten years ago there were only two states where buying recreational cannabis was legal, it's not hard to see where this trend is going. Perhaps in recognition of this trend and the increase in use, some jurisdictions have taken protective measures for prospective employees subject to drug testing, including a complete ban on cannabis testing. Most recently, Philadelphia passed a similar law, effective January 1, 2022, prohibiting employers from requiring job applicants to submit to THC testing. Statewide in Nevada, as of January 2020, pre-employment cannabis testing is banned.

As discussed above, states like Illinois risk discriminating against recreational cannabis users because cannabis is now a "legal product" under Illinois law. Other states, such as New York and New Jersey, have even broader protections for off-duty cannabis use. Failure to comply with these protections can have real consequences. Amazon recently settled a class-action lawsuit alleging that the company discriminated against recreational cannabis users in New Jersey. Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, Amazon also excluded cannabis from its drug testing. Despite the importance of these legal protections, employers who require testing will feel the impact of cannabis legalization in other ways. One Illinois employment agency found that nearly 40% of recent job applicants failed tests because of cannabis use. At a time when the workforce as a whole is shrinking, this may result in an unaffordable pool of candidates.

the best addiction treatment center in pakistan

So, taking all these factors into account, is it worth testing for cannabis? Of course, the answer is not unique. The decision will depend on several factors, including certain exceptions to the legal prohibitions on testing listed above, laws requiring drug testing in certain workplaces, and issues relating to job functions in a particular location (e.g. working behind a desk versus operating heavy machinery). However, what many employers may have considered best practice for many years should be reconsidered in light of these rapid developments. Foley's Labour and Employment team, supported by Foley's Cannabis Group, is ready to help employers navigate this ever-changing landscape.

Cannabis and mental health

Regular cannabis use increases the risk of developing psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia.

Psychotic illness is when you have hallucinations (seeing things that are not there) and delusions (believing things that are not true).

The risk of developing psychotic illness is higher in people who

start using cannabis at an early age

smoking stronger strains such as skunk

regular smoking

use over a long period

smoke cannabis and also have other risk factors for schizophrenia, such as a family history of schizophrenia.

Cannabis also increases the risk of relapse in people who already have schizophrenia and can worsen psychotic symptoms.

the best addiction treatment center in pakistan

Other risks associated with cannabis

Other risks associated with regular cannabis use may include:

feeling hoarse or short of breath

development of an unpleasant or painful cough

exacerbation of asthma symptoms in people with asthma

impairment of your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.

If you drive under the influence of cannabis, you are more likely to have an accident. This is one of the reasons why driving under the influence of drugs, like driving under the influence of alcohol, is illegal.

Cannabis and pregnancy

Cannabis use can affect fertility. Regular or heavy cannabis use is associated with altered menstrual cycles in women and decreased sperm count or sperm quality in men.

the best addiction treatment center in pakistan

Cannabis can be harmful during pregnancy. Cannabis smoke contains chemicals that are harmful to the lungs and the rest of the body.

Regular smoking of cannabis with tobacco increases the risk of the baby being born small or premature.

Cannabis is not associated with birth defects, but studies show that regular cannabis use during pregnancy can affect the development of the baby's brain as it grows.

Does cannabis have medicinal properties?

Hemp contains active ingredients called cannabinoids; two of them, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), are the active ingredients in the prescription drug Sativex. It is used to relieve pain from muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis.

Another cannabinoid drug, called Nabilone, is sometimes used to relieve discomfort in people undergoing cancer chemotherapy.

the best addiction treatment center in pakistan

Cannabis-based medicines are currently in clinical trials to treat other conditions such as cancer pain, ocular glaucoma, loss of appetite in people with HIV or AIDS, and epilepsy in children.