Has your Pennsylvania employer or prospective employer asked you to take a drug test? That case centers on Joseph Clark Jr., who worked for JRK Enterprises as a flagger, directing traffic at construction sites. DOCX Drug Free Workplace PA (DFWPA) A major requirement when applying for jobs, applicants are often required to be tested for drug use and drug abuse. Can I Get Fired for Using Medical Marijuana if I Have a Missouri A spokesperson for the Department of Labor and Industry said the agency doesnt have statistics for the number of people initially denied benefits in cases similar to Moyers.Different approachesPennsylvanias Department of Health oversees the states medical marijuana program, but an agency spokesperson said the law does not give it broad oversight of enforcement of employee protections, adding that changes to the law would require legislative action.While Pennsylvania lawmakers havent changed protections for workers, some employers and local governments have adjusted their own policies.The number of urine drug screens in Pennsylvania that included marijuana dropped from nearly 99% in 2017 to 88% in 2021, according to workforce data from Quest Diagnostics. An estimated 64 million people have tried CBD in the past 24 months, according to a January 2019 nationally representative survey by Consumer Reports of more than 4,000 adult Americans, using it. Employee Prescription Medications Form Additional Resources CDL Coordinators List Employee Guide to CDL Drug and Alcohol Testing OA-Workplace Support is available to assist with any substance abuse issues and can be contacted at 717.787.8575 or ra-workplacesupportservices@pa.gov. State Sen. Judy Schwank (D., Berks) said the measure could be especially burdensome to someone whos using medical marijuana for all the right reasons.The bill passed out of committee on a party-line vote with all Republicans in favor. The nationally recognized level of impairment for drunken driving is .08 g/mL blood alcohol concentration, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Accommodations for Medical Marijuana usage in the Workplace General DQ Questions Medical Exams Audits. Jamie Gullen, JD, supervising attorney with Community Legal Services of Philadelphias employment unit. who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. They can be punished if they show up to work impaired similar to the process for other drugs, according to Leech and a city spokesperson. They can be punished if they show up to work impaired similar to the process for other drugs, according to Leech and a city spokesperson.Other firefighters have told Leech theyre drinking less alcohol, or theyve switched from federally approved prescription drugs, such as opioids, to medical marijuana because they feel its safer and less addictive. Pennsylvania law, he said, should offer more protections so medical marijuana patients arent fired.It should be more clear, Moyer told Spotlight PA. A lot of people dont know. Ordinarily, that law would require an employer to make a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability but because marijuana is federally illegal, Gullen notes, the ADA wouldnt apply. Can You Be Drug Tested If You Have a Medical Marijuana Card? What to bring to a DOT physical; Clark told her he used marijuana to treat a medical condition and planned to continue doing so. Federal law places few limits on employer drug testing: Although the federal government requires testing by employers in a few safety-sensitive industries (including transportation, aviation, and contractors with NASA and the Department of Defense), federal law doesn't otherwise require - or prohibit drug . How long does marijuana stay in your system? Blood, urine, and hair In 2018, Pittsburgh firefighters worked out an agreement with city officials that created specific protections for medical marijuana cardholders who use the drug off duty. Spotlight PASupport This Work But restrictions on other workers such as those working at heights or in confined spaces are more vague. Things are less clear cut if you have a felony conviction, however. We have no billionaire owner or shareholders to consider. Show moreMarijuana, testing and impairmentHow long is marijuana use detectable in a drug test?It varies. He pushed back, and a federal oversight agency under the Department of Transportation later ruled in his favor. Here are a few examples: Arizona, Minnesota, and Delaware say employers cant punish patients based on a positive drug test for marijuana unless they used, possessed, or were impaired at work or on duty. From the legalization of recreational use to expanding medical marijuana access, lowering penalties for possession, allowing home cultivation, and establishing a taxation and regulation system for the marijuana industry, these changes could have significant implications . Pennsylvanias Department of Health oversees the states medical marijuana program, but an agency spokesperson said the law does not give it broad oversight of enforcement of employee protections, adding that changes to the law would require legislative action. People want jobs, not lawsuits, Auerbach says. Related Information from Chester County Hospital Drug and Alcohol Testing at Chester County Hospital Medical Marijuana The Truth About Medical Marijuana And Epilepsy Treatment Depending on how valuable you are to . Now join thousands of your friends and neighbors in supporting it.With gratitude, To register for the medical marijuana program, you must have a Pennsylvania driver's license or an ID card issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. I have quit smoking in the meantime just in case, but it will . Being able to have this safe, effective treatment I think has actually made them better firefighters and made our job safer.In Harrisburg, negotiations over employment protections have been lengthy and challenging, state Sen. Michele Brooks (R., Mercer) said during a committee hearing earlier this year.State Sen. Bob Mensch (R., Montgomery) introduced legislation in June 2021 that would specifically allow employers to place marijuana restrictions on people who work in several newly defined safety-sensitive positions, including anyone performing firefighting duties, dispensing pharmaceuticals, caring for a patient or child, or operating a motor vehicle. But there is no similar national standard for drugged driving.In August 2020, Clark sent an email to the owner and president of the company, Shannon Snare, asking about the workplace policy for medical marijuana.I just dont know what our policy is on it and what would happen if I was sent out for a urine, Clark wrote, referring to a drug test and adding that he didnt want anyone to be caught off guard with this.Snare told him she was checking with her attorney and would get back to him.Unfortunately, we cannot allow you to flag for us, Snare wrote the next day.Hed have to quit using marijuana and pass a drug test if he wanted to continue flagging, she explained. DOT "Medical Marijuana" Notice | US Department of Transportation The law says that employers cant discharge, threaten, refuse to hire, or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against patients compensation, terms, conditions, location or privileges solely based on their status as registered medical marijuana users. Since legalizing medical marijuana in 2016 for serious medical conditions such as cancer and epilepsy, Pennsylvania has seen an influx of medical marijuana users. It should be more clear, Moyer told Spotlight PA. A lot of people dont know. For the more than 400,000 medical marijuana patients in the state, the stakes are high. READ MORE: How medical marijuana affects your tenant rights in Pennsylvania. A spokesperson for Philadelphia Gas Works wouldnt answer questions about Douglas situation or broader questions about its drug testing policies. But what about work? Absent a change in federal or state law, thats not likely to change soon. Those include: Work performed at heights or in confined spaces, (such as mining). Usually clinics are busy and impersonal, but everyone was so nice! What do I need for my appointment? You need a state issued medical card to purchase medical marijuana from a dispensary in Pennsylvania. DOT "Recreational Marijuana" Notice | US Department of - Transportation You usually have to pay a fee to get this card. Vague legal safeguards for medical marijuana users in Pennsylvania are forcing patients to choose between their job and a drug they say has changed their life, and leaving skittish employers vulnerable to lawsuits, according to a three-month Spotlight PA investigation.While state law protects workers from being fired or denied a job just for having a doctors permission to use marijuana, those protections become opaque when people actually take the drug regardless of whether they do it in their personal time. But he didnt want to stop using marijuana. PaulaTexas patient. Copy of your valid DOT medical card. I am sorry but as of now, you no longer work for us.Clark later found a job at another business. Laws in Arizona, Minnesota, and Delaware, for instance, say employers cant discriminate against patients based solely on a positive drug test for marijuana metabolites or components.But so far, Pennsylvania lawmakers havent done the same, and attempts to change protections have run into obstacles. Pennsylvania Court: Medical Marijuana Act Allows Employees to - SHRM Pre-Employment Urine Test as a Med Card Holder How long is marijuana use detectable in a drug test? Act 16: Guide for Employers & Employees That leads to inconsistency and what employers see as a lose-lose scenario: Either risk a wrongful termination suit, or potentially allow an unsafe work environment. Will you do your part today by making a contribution? He started working for the company in 2013, and an email exchange included as an exhibit in the case shows how he lost his job. Without a valid DOT medical card, you can lose your CDL. In many cases, using medical marijuana while on the job is at the discretion of your employer. The medical marijuana users will soon be driving with the marijuana metabolites . Pennsylvanias law doesnt specifically address the rights of patients to use the drug when they arent at work, and unlike some other states, it doesnt include protections for them if they fail a drug test but are not impaired. Juvenile Law Center. Ed MahonSpotlight PAIllustrations by 2022Pennsylvania Department of Health, August National Conference of State Legislatures. They think they have a card and they are protected, like I did.. Contest the punishment. Show moreKey PointsVague protections in Pennsylvanias medical marijuana law create unnecessary confusion and force workers to choose between their job and a doctor-approved drug.Employers say they have to juggle creating a safe work environment with the potential for a wrongful termination lawsuit.More than a dozen workers have filed lawsuits alleging they were punished for being a medical marijuana patient or legally using the drug. Will a Medical Marijuana Card Show Up on a Background - Secure Thoughts It limits your ability to manage your medical condition.. People in Douglas role should not be required to participate in their federally-mandated drug testing, the agency said. Post-accident - Drug and alcohol tests may be required after crashes according to the following chart ( 382.303 ): The Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (Act 16) protects registered patients from unfair discrimination in the workplace without requiring employers to violate federal law. New Card $199, Renewal $100, Returning Patients $50. In court filings, attorneys for the unemployment board disputed both claims and argued there is no credible evidence that Claimants use of medical marijuana created a safety hazard for anyone.. Snare told him she was checking with her attorney and would get back to him. During your first visit to a weed dispensary in Pennsylvania, you'll need to have your Pennsylvania state ID or driver's license and medical marijuana card. Conclusion. Mayo Clinic Laboratories estimates that urine drug tests, the most common type, will detect marijuana use for about three to 30 days, depending on how frequently the person used cannabis.How long are people impaired from cannabis?That varies, too, but studies related to driving and cognition have shown that occasional recreational users return to a generally nonimpaired state within 3 to 6 hours after smoking marijuana, according to a 2015 report from two occupational health groups.Is there a standard definition of impairment for cannabis?No. It is, therefore . How do you get your medical marijuana card in PA? Since Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act (MMA) was signed into law on April 17, 2016, the Department of Health has been busy implementing the Medical Marijuana Program. New Jerseys acting attorney general sent a memo to law enforcement agencies, telling them state law allows police officers to use cannabis off duty. You'll need a driver's license or state-issued photo ID, and to be 18 years old. Medical Marijuana Card| Cannabis Care Consultants | Pennsylvania Asked June 14, 2017. . report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The Longenecker case ended earlier this year later after the two sides privately resolved the lawsuit and asked a judge to dismiss the case. Box 69008 Harrisburg, PA 17106-9008 By Fax: 717-783-5429 In Philadelphia, elected officials passed a ban on pre-employment marijuana screenings for many jobs. Snare replied that she appreciated his honesty, respected the years and hard work he gave the company, and believed him when he said he didnt use the drug on the job.However, you will not be able to continue to work for us while using marijuana, even though it is prescription, Snare wrote. Show moreKey PointsVague protections in Pennsylvanias medical marijuana law create unnecessary confusion and force workers to choose between their job and a doctor-approved drug.Employers say they have to juggle creating a safe work environment with the potential for a wrongful termination lawsuit.More than a dozen workers have filed lawsuits alleging they were punished for being a medical marijuana patient or legally using the drug. Do I need a referral from a marijuana doctor in PA? Anyone in the industry is actually taking a pretty big risk, hoping that the federal system doesn't crack down like it did in the beginning. But he told Spotlight PA in July that uncertainty over workplace policies on marijuana limited his options. And it also enables us to share that work with more than 90 newsroom partners in your community and communities across the state at no charge.From giant corporations to predatory hedge funds, a small number of billionaire owners have a powerful hold on so much of the information that reaches the public about whats happening here. In fact, most states that have voted to legalize medical cannabis have added amendments forbidding employers from punishing employees who have failed marijuana drug tests.