Support for marijuana legalization has grown substantially over the last 50 years, with 70% of Americans backing it by 2023. Currently, over half of the U.S. population lives in a state with legal recreational marijuana. Even in some fully illegal states, several cities are deciding to decriminalize marijuana or treat it as just a minor offense. 

Some states are more lenient than others when it comes to marijuana use. Colorado so far allows particular businesses to have designated cannabis-smoking sections. Citizens are also able to have medical cannabis delivered straight to their homes or order marijuana to their address. People can possess one ounce of marijuana in Alaska and Washington while citizens in Oregon can keep up to a 24-ounce supply of medical marijuana. In California, employers are not allowed to ask employees about their cannabis use outside of the workplace. 

Idaho, South Carolina, Kansas, and Wyoming on the other hand are very strict with their marijuana laws. Idaho and South Carolina both consider possession of marijuana a misdemeanor that is punishable with imprisonment as well as a fine. Kansas was unable to advance any marijuana legislation in 2025 while Wyoming remains one of the only states without any support for marijuana use. 

Nowadays, marijuana has even become involved with the workplace. Almost 50% of marijuana users in legalized states have said they use cannabis at or before work. More than 70% of users have even stated that being high benefits their work performance. 

The workplace is growing more lenient towards marijuana screening in recent years. Almost 50% of companies do not test for cannabis in the pre-hire process, although more than a third of employers consider themselves unprepared for the effects of legal cannabis in the workplace. Places like Nevada, New York City, and Washington D.C. have already passed laws that prohibit pre-employment screening for marijuana. There are even a number of states where employers have to provide accommodations for authorized medical marijuana users. While there are five states that allow employers to discipline employees under the influence during working hours, more evidence than a simple failed drug test is required to do so as testing does not always result in accurate findings. 

With marijuana laws constantly changing, it will benefit companies if they can adapt to the growing legality of cannabis in the workplace. 

 

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