INDUSTRY NEWS

St. Louis City Officials Suspend Marijuana Testing for Most Public Employees

New rules were approved by the St. Louis City Council regarding the suspension of marijuana-specific pre-employment and random drug screenings for public employees in non-safety sensitive positions.


The new rules states that "No person currently employed by St. Louis County or applying for employment by St. Louis County shall be required to undergo pre-employment or random drug testing for the presence of marijuana metabolites (THC) as a condition or part of employment."

This approval occurred after Kansas City council members approved a local ordinance halting pre-employment marijuana testing for most prospective government employees. Other cities and have implemented similar ordinances including Atlanta, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Additionally, several states - such as Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Montana - have enacted legislation limiting pre-employment drug testing for marijuana and/or refusal to hire based on test results.

Employers are encouraged to review the specific details of city ordinances and state legislation regarding drug testing for marijuana to ensure alignment with internal protocols and practices.

Posted: April 15, 2022