What Employers Should Know About Marijuana and Drug Testing in the Workplace

A study shows that employees who tested positive for marijuana had 55% more industrial accidents, 85% more injuries, and 75% greater absenteeism compared to those who tested negative, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Conducting drug testing for your potential and current employees can help prevent and detect workplace drug abuse. Besides federal law, each state has its own laws around drug testing. Although marijuana is legal in the state of Alaska, many jobs in the state, such as ones through the Department of Transportation (DOT), are federal, and the drug test would automatically fail if you tested for marijuana. 

Source: Quest Diagnostics DTI

 

An annual report by  2023 Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing IndexTM (DTI) based on the results of more than 10.6 million drug tests in 2022 showed the combined US workforce urine drug positivity for all drugs persisted at 4.6%—the highest level in two decades. While marijuana positivity rates have also reached a 20-year high.

Implementing a drug-free workplace policy in your company can help enhance the overall performance of your employees and also prevent the financial risks associated with drug abuse. In addition, here is a list of all Alaska drug testing laws, last updated in 2023.

MedPhysicals Plus can complete testing of all types quickly and efficiently, offers a range of drug-testing options, including urine, blood, and hair tests, and ensures that all tests are conducted in a fair and non-discriminatory manner.

Stay up to date on what you need to know by contacting us today. Visit our page on employee drug testing and screening here.