Bill

Bill > S3452


NJ S3452

NJ S3452
Establishes protection from adverse employment action for authorized medical cannabis patients.


summary

Introduced
02/09/2026
In Committee
02/09/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill would establish protections from adverse employment actions for registered patients using medical cannabis pursuant to the "Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act." Specifically, an employer would be prohibited from taking any adverse employment action against an employee based on the employee's status as a registry identification cardholder or based on a positive test for cannabis, unless the employer establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the lawful use of medical cannabis has impaired the employee's ability to perform the employee's job responsibilities. The bill provides that an employer may consider an employee's ability to perform the employee's job responsibilities to be impaired when the employee manifests specific articulable symptoms while working that decrease or lessen the employee's performance of the duties or tasks of the employee's job position. If an employer has a drug testing policy and an employee or job applicant tests positive for cannabis, the employee or job applicant is to be offered an opportunity to present a legitimate medical explanation for the positive test result, and is to be provided written notice of the right to explain. Within three working days after receiving notice, the employee or job applicant would be permitted to submit information to the employer to explain the positive test result, or request a confirmatory retest of the original sample at the employee's or job applicant's own expense. An employee or job applicant would be permitted to present a health care practitioner's recommendation for medical cannabis, a registry identification card, or both, as part of the employee's or job applicant's explanation for the positive test. Nothing in the bill would restrict an employer's ability to prohibit or take adverse employment action for the possession or use of intoxicating substances during work hours, or require an employer to commit any act that would cause the employer to be in violation of federal law, or that would result in the loss of a federal contract or federal funding. The bill defines "adverse employment action" to mean refusing to hire or employ a qualified registered patient, barring or discharging a qualified registered patient from employment, requiring a qualified registered patient to retire from employment, or discriminating against a qualified registered patient in compensation or in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.

AI Summary

This bill establishes protections for authorized medical cannabis patients from negative employment actions, meaning employers cannot refuse to hire, fire, or discriminate against an employee solely because they are a registered medical cannabis patient or because they tested positive for cannabis, unless the employer can prove that the medical cannabis use has impaired the employee's ability to perform their job duties, which can be demonstrated by specific observable symptoms at work that negatively affect job performance. If an employee or applicant tests positive for cannabis, the employer must offer them a chance to explain the result with a legitimate medical reason, such as providing a doctor's recommendation or registry identification card, and give them written notice of this right, allowing three working days to submit information or request a retest at their own expense. However, this bill does not prevent employers from prohibiting drug use during work hours or taking action if it violates federal law or jeopardizes federal contracts or funding.

Committee Categories

Labor and Employment

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Labor Committee (on 02/09/2026)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...