If you live in a state with legal medical marijuana, you’ve probably heard the phrase “company drug policy” more often than you can count. It’s a phrase that comes up again and again because there are so many different ways to interpret it. Can medical marijuana patients smoke in public?
Regardless of whether or not the state you live in allows medical marijuana, most people have no idea if you can smoke it in public. It isn’t as specific as an “employer drug policy,” for example. Well, the same rules apply whether you’re using medical marijuana or any other kind. In general, company drug policies are set in place for safety reasons.
When you work with a bunch of other people in an enclosed space, it can create some safety concerns if everyone is under the influence of drugs. This is why most companies will have some sort of policy about drugs and alcohol at work.
But what about medical marijuana? Can employees smoke weed at work if they have a note from their doctor? If so, how much do they need to explain to their boss?
Can Medical Marijuana Patients Smoke Weed At Work?
This is the million-dollar question that all employees with medical marijuana cards ask themselves. Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple yes or no answer to this question. Instead, it all comes down to your company drug policy.
Marijuana is one of the most common drugs that employees test positive for. So, if you work for a company with a strict drug policy, you need to be prepared for your employer to test you for drugs. Many companies will test you for drugs at the start of the job and randomly throughout your employment.
And, if you test positive for drugs, you’ll need to offer proof of why you tested positive. If you fail a drug test, you’ll need to prove that you’re using medical marijuana legally.
Why Are Company Drug Policies Important?
Drug testing policies aren’t just a way for employers to keep tabs on employees. Companies also use drug testing to protect themselves from liability. If someone at work injures themselves or another person, your company can be held accountable. When the injured party decides to sue the company, they can use your drug use as an argument for why you should be held responsible for their injuries.
Keeping a drug testing policy in your company, it’s important to respect. You should be familiar with your company’s drug testing policies and the consequences of violating them. You should also be prepared to prove that you’re legally using medical marijuana if you’re ever drug tested.
It’s important to try to come up with a solution that works for both you and your employer. There is no standard drug policy, and it’s possible that you and your boss can come up with a solution that works for everyone.
Should You Tell Your Boss If You’re Going to Smoke Weed?
In general, the answer to this question is no. Your company’s drug policy will probably indicate that you need to report any drugs you use or prescriptions you’re taking. This includes medical marijuana, so unless you plan on getting a prescription for medical marijuana, you should be honest about your drug use.
Drug testing isn’t something that you want to take a risk on. If you know you’ll be tested for drugs, it’s important to use fake urine. If you fail your drug test, you should explain to your boss that you’re using medical marijuana. Failing a drug test doesn’t automatically mean you’ll lose your job.
However, it does mean that you’ll need to provide proof that you’re using medical marijuana legally. Most companies will require a prescription and a note from your doctor confirming that you use marijuana for medical reasons.
How To Handle Company Drug Policies With Medical Marijuana
If you know you’re going to be drug tested and you know you’ll fail because you smoke weed, you can consider using fake urine. Fake urine kits are easy to procure online and are made to look and smell like real urine.
If you fail your drug test because you smoked weed, you’ll need to provide proof of why you failed the drug test. You’ll need to give your employer your doctor’s note and your medical marijuana card. It’s important to note that not all states have medical marijuana cards.
So, you might need to show proof of your diagnosis from your doctor. If you fail a drug test because of medical marijuana, your employer can decide to let you off with a warning or they can terminate you. It’s important to note that many companies will terminate you for failing a drug test regardless of whether it’s because of medical marijuana.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of different ways to handle company drug policies. There are a few different things you can do if you’re a medical marijuana patient who gets drug tested at work. You can try to come up with a solution that works for both you and your boss.
You can also use fake urine if you know you’re going to fail a drug test. Overall, it’s important to respect your company’s drug policy and to try to find a solution that works for everyone.
