Arkansas employers are in the weeds with medical marijuana - Axios NW ArkansasLog InLog InAxios NW Arkansas is an Axios company.

Arkansas employers are in the weeds with medical marijuana

Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios If the recreational marijuana ballot is passed, how it will impact Arkansas' employers and employees is as hazy as the rafters at an Eagles concert. State of play: The state's an employer from discriminating against an employee or applicant if they're a medical marijuana patient or caregiver. Yes, but: An employer can have drug-testing policies and discipline an employee for possession, use or being under the influence at work or during work hours.Employers can choose to keep an employee from working in a safety-sensitive position — like forklift driver or school bus driver — if there's a good faith belief they're a user of medical marijuana. Between the lines: The use of marijuana is still illegal on a federal level, so contractors and businesses working with the federal government may require drug testing of employees. The big picture: There's no agreed metric to determine marijuana intoxication, so testing will reveal only that someone has used the drug, but may not reveal if they're currently impaired. Yes, and: While many employers drug screen applicants, Quest Diagnostics reports that employer tests for marijuana were , which could be a trend of broader acceptance. What they're saying: "There's a lot of uncertainty of how Issue 4, if it's passed, will impact employers in Arkansas," Nate Read with Mitchell Williams law firm in Rogers tells Axios. The bottom line: If the law is passed, the Arkansas General Assembly may look to set guidelines for recreational marijuana in January. Go deeper: ... Get more local stories in your inbox with .Subscribe Support local journalism by becoming a member.

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