Bill
Bill > A1838
NJ A1838
Establishes protection from adverse employment action for authorized medical marijuana patients.
summary
Introduced
01/09/2018
01/09/2018
In Committee
01/09/2018
01/09/2018
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/08/2020
01/08/2020
Introduced Session
2018-2019 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill would establish protections from adverse employment actions for registered patients using medical marijuana pursuant to the "New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana 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 marijuana, unless the employer establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the lawful use of medical marijuana 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 marijuana, 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 doctor's recommendation for medical marijuana, 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 from adverse employment actions for registered patients using medical marijuana pursuant to the "New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act." Specifically, it prohibits employers from taking any adverse employment action against an employee based on their status as a medical marijuana registry cardholder or a positive marijuana test, unless the employer can prove the lawful use of medical marijuana has impaired the employee's job performance. The bill provides a process for employees or job applicants to explain positive marijuana test results, including by presenting a doctor's recommendation or registry identification card. Employers are still allowed to prohibit or take action for intoxication during work hours and are not required to violate federal law or lose federal contracts or funding.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee (on 01/09/2018)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
Document Type | Source Location |
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BillText | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/A2000/1838_I1.HTM |
Bill | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/A2000/1838_I1.PDF |
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