Blogs

INDUSTRY NEWS

Connecticut Legalizes Recreational Marijuana, Will Allow Employers to Continue Prohibiting Recreational Marijuana Use

By Elizabeth McKenna and Dale Deitchler on July 19, 2021

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont recently signed Senate Bill 1201, making Connecticut the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 years or older. The new law not only requires expungement of certain existing marijuana convictions, but also creates employment protections for recreational marijuana users. While these protections are more limited than those recently recognized in neighboring states New York1 and New Jersey,2 Connecticut employers should review current policies and practices to ensure they are prepared for the changes by July 1, 2022, the effective date of the new employment provisions.

Notably, the new law expressly permits employers to continue to prohibit employees from engaging in the recreational use of marijuana, subject to certain statutory requirements. Employers that wish to take action based on positive recreational marijuana test results must carefully comply with those requirements. A positive marijuana test result, standing alone, otherwise will be insufficient to justify adverse employment action.

Drug-Free Workplace Provisions Under Connecticut's New Law

Employers in Connecticut should be aware of the following key employment provisions:

    • Workplace Use/Possession Can be Prohibited. Employers may continue to prohibit the use or possession of marijuana during work hours, on employer premises and while using an employer's equipment or other property.

    • Employers Should Update Their Drug-Free Workplace Policies. Employers may continue to take adverse employment action based on recreational marijuana use provided a written policy is in effect to prohibit such use. Similarly, the law expressly allows employers to rescind conditional offers of employment to applicants who test positive for recreational marijuana use, provided the policy is made available to the applicant at the time the offer is made.

    • A Written Policy is Not Required to Support Reasonable Suspicion Drug Testing. Employers are permitted to take adverse action against an employee who fails a reasonable suspicion drug test for marijuana, even if the employer has not implemented a written policy. (Of course, urinalysis testing-other than federally mandated testing-must continue to satisfy the Connecticut workplace urinalysis testing law).3

    • Certain Industries are Expressly Exempt from Provisions Prohibiting Adverse Action Absent a Written Policy. Although the new law lacks clarity, it appears that employers in certain industries, including but not limited to mining, utilities, construction, transportation and delivery, healthcare or social services, educational services, and justice, public order or safety activities are specifically exempted from the statutory provisions prohibiting adverse employment action unless taken pursuant to a written policy.

    • Certain Positions are Also Expressly Exempt. Employees in certain positions are also expressly excluded from protections offered workers who engage in off-duty recreational marijuana use. Express exemptions include, but are not limited to, positions regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT), positions funded by federal grants, positions requiring supervision of children, medical patients or vulnerable persons, and positions with any potential health/safety impact (as determined by the employer). Individuals working in these positions are not entitled to legal protection for off-work marijuana use.

Prohibited Employer Conduct

Once effective, the new law will largely prohibit adverse action by a non-exempt employer absent a written substance abuse/testing policy establishing rules against recreational marijuana use outside of work. This prohibition will affect testing of employees as well as applicants. Absent such a policy, non-exempt employers will be prohibited from taking adverse action based on a positive marijuana drug test unless the employer had reasonable suspicion an employee was under the influence at the time of referral for testing. Notably, the law reinforces the previously established protections for medical marijuana users already recognized under Connecticut law.4

Significantly, the new law will expressly permit employees to pursue a private cause of action if the employer fails to observe its employment provisions. Any applicant or employee who prevails in asserting such a claim may be entitled to back pay, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs and other damages, or an order for reinstatement.

What Employers Should Do Now

Connecticut employers with rules prohibiting recreational marijuana use and those who test for marijuana should manage for compliance now, before the law becomes effective in 2022. Employers are encouraged to review and update their existing drug-testing policies or implement a written policy if one is not already in place. If your organization is using urine drug testing, keep in mind that the provisions of Connecticut's general drug-testing statute regulating the use of urinalysis remain in place. Employers subject to federal drug-testing requirements (e.g., testing required by the DOT) should continue testing as mandated by federal law and seek guidance as necessary for state law compliance relating to their non-regulated workforces.

This article was originally published on Littler Mendelson's website. Click here to read the original article.

© 2021 Littler Mendelson. All Rights Reserved. LITTLER MENDELSON®, ASAP®, INSIGHT® and LITTLER REPORT® are registered trademarks of Littler Mendelson, P.C.

Posted: July 22, 2021


1 See Dale Deitchler and Sean Malley, Recreational Marijuana Use Away from Work Now Protected in New York, Littler ASAP (Apr. 2, 2021).

2 See Lauren J. Marcus, Dale Deitchler, Nancy Delogu, and Dylan Dindial, Off-Duty Recreational Cannabis Use to be Protected in New Jersey, Littler ASAP (Feb. 24, 2021).

3 Conn. Gen. Stat. secs. 31-51t-51aa.

4 Specifically, Connecticut's recreational marijuana law did not change existing protections for medical marijuana users under the state's medical marijuana statute and related caselaw.


All Rights Reserved © 2021 Business Information Group, Inc.
This document and/or presentation is provided as a service to our customers. Its contents are designed solely for informational purposes, and should not be inferred or understood as legal advice or binding case law, nor shared with any third parties. Persons in need of legal assistance should seek the advice of competent legal counsel. Although care has been taken in preparation of these materials, we cannot guarantee the accuracy, currency or completeness of the information contained within it. Anyone using this information does so at his or her own risk.

Sending...
Thank you for your interest in Business Information Group. We have received your message and will contact you in one business day or less.
You have exceeded the number of attempts to submit this form. As a result, your IP address has been temporarily blocked.

Get In Touch

Send a Message *fields required

What are your Interests?optional

Contact Information

Even our RFP PROCESS is state-of-the-art.

Take a look
RFP Kit

What our clients are saying

We cannot express enough how much we have enjoyed working with BIG! It has really benefitted our processing and ease of doing business!

Licensing and Registration Manager
Investment and Insurance Company

I enjoy collaborating with BIG, and know that if I have to reach out with a question/concern, a positive attitude with a willingness to find resolve is on the other side of an email or a phone call.

Human Resources Administrator
Global Financial Services Firm

You have been the most professional and most helpful business partner that I have ever been associated with — always there to assist us and with rapid turnaround times.

Principal Consultant
Major Professional Services Network

I am confident whenever we add a product with your company that I will have a good experience.

Division Manager
Insurance and Financial Services Agency

We have received superior service and we know this is what you and your team strive for. We are grateful for the dedication, level of professionalism and effort shown.

Agent
Large Insurance Agency

You are leaving BIGReport.com

Ok, Continue Cancel

×
×