Last updated : December 16, 2024
Depending on where you stand on the issue, Florida is abuzz—pun possibly intended—with either anticipation or apprehension about the fact that legalizing recreational marijuana is on November’s ballot. If Amendment 3 passes, supporters will want employers to remove it from company drug tests. Employers may wonder if their turnover rates will soar if they don’t.
However, the reason that marijuana is on the test in the first place is because it causes impairment. If someone’s mental and physical capabilities are affected, they are at higher risk of being involved in an accident. The same is true for coworkers, customers, or the public at large who may be nearby.
Legal doesn’t mean less potent though
Of course, we all realize that the opposite is more true than not. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels found in marijuana today are off the charts compared to its levels back in the sixties and seventies. Moreover, its derivative products, such as vape oils and dabbing wax, for instance, are reaching levels in the 90% range!
If supporters would stop and consider that fact for a second, they would likely sit down and hush up. Seriously. Giving employees the green light to show up for work stoned doesn’t make any sense.
Employers drug test to keep the workplace as safe as possible. Even employees who smoke pot have to realize it would be less safe if coworkers assume it’s okay to be high while on the clock.
That’s the wrench in the works
Even if employees are smoking marijuana or using other products containing THC when they’re kicking back at home, the marijuana metabolites remaining in the body cause a positive result for weeks. Months, even, depending on how often it’s consumed, after the last use.
Other drugs aren’t detectable for nearly as long. Cocaine metabolites, for example, only show up in the urine for one or two days after the last dose. The same can be said for a mouth swab test.
The solution to the problem is to have a test that detects current impairment. There’s a company in California that is releasing just such a test. Houndlabs, Inc. has created a breathalyzer that detects THC. Moreover, they’re on the market now.
Customer reviews are positive, however, the breathalyzer isn’t currently used by law enforcement. In answer to that, the company states that its focus is on workplace drug testing.
Regarding turnover
In the big picture, drug testing is all about safety. Even if Amendment 3 passes in Florida, employers should keep testing for marijuana because it impairs judgment and could, possibly, affect coordination. Neither bodes well for peak job performance.
Remember, alcohol is legal too. Still, you aren’t allowed to show up for work under the influence. If employees decide to find an employer who doesn’t test for marijuana if it’s legalized, it may be in the best interest of all involved.
If we consider the drug-free statistic that proves turnover rates drop when employees are tested for drugs, though, it’s all going to work out okay. Do you need another positive statistic boost? Employees who work for a drug-free company are more satisfied with their career choices because they feel their employers truly care about their well-being.
Proof that the door always swings both ways.
