5 States Legalize Marijuana: Workplace Impact

Voters in five states approved laws to legalize medical or recreational marijuana. The states’ initiatives have one thing in common: None of them are obligating employers to accommodate recreational weed.

The Smart and Safe Arizona Act allows those 21 years old or older to possess less than one ounce of recreational marijuana, according to law firm Jackson Lewis.

Mississippi voters passed Initiative 65, allowing medical marijuana for patients suffering from certain medical conditions. Patients can possess up to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana, and the law doesn’t permit criminal or civil sanctions for using the drug.

Mississippi’s Department of Health must issue medical marijuana cards no later than Aug. 15, 2021.

Montana’s Initiative 90 and Constitutional Initiative 118 both passed allowing individuals age 21 or older to possess one ounce or less. The law is effective Jan. 1, 2021. New Jersey will amend its Constitution to legalize recreational use of marijuana for adults 21 and older after voters passed Question 1.

Effective Jan. 1, 2021, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission will begin regulating recreational marijuana, but still has to determine the amount individuals can possess, which is expected to take up to one year.

Medical and Recreational

Voters in South Dakota approved medical and recreational marijuana use. Under Measure 26, which allows medical marijuana for patients suffering a debilitating medical condition, cardholders may possess up to three ounces. This goes into effect July 1, 2021, but it may take up to a year before medical marijuana is available in the state.

Constitutional Amendment A, effective July 1, 2021, permits those 21 years old or older to possess and use one ounce or less of marijuana.

The state’s Department of Revenue must issue regulations no later than April 1, 2022.

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