Complete Story
10/09/2024
Nearly Half of Employers Don’t Test Applicants for Cannabis
Source: Fisher Phillips, October 8, 2024
48% of employers don’t test for cannabis in the pre-hire process, and many have made this choice to ensure they meet their talent acquisition and retention goals. In fact, 44% of organizations that do test for cannabis report they have faced challenges recruiting qualified candidates. Those are just a few of the findings from the latest FP Flash Survey conducted between September 23 and October 2, gathering information from nearly 1,000 employers across the country. The survey revealed seven key findings that provide an enlightening glimpse into the current state of cannabis testing, and could help you navigate this modern era.
Half of Employers Don’t Test for Cannabis
The main takeaway from this latest survey is that just about half of responding employers do not test for cannabis during the pre-hire process. 475 of the 989 responses (48%) from organizations indicated that they either no longer or have never tested for cannabis. Meanwhile, 12% of respondents said they test for cannabis at the pre-hire stage but only for some jobs, such as those that are safety-sensitive or those where a legal requirement mandates pre-hire cannabis testing. This leaves 40% of respondents reporting that they continue to test all applicants for cannabis in the pre-hire stage.
Employers on Both Coasts Less Likely to Test
It might not be a surprise to learn that employers primarily stationed on both coasts are less likely to mandate pre-hire cannabis testing than their peers across the country, while employers across the southwest and south-central part of the country are far more likely to require such testing. What percentage of employers said they do not test for cannabis during pre-hire? Here’s a breakdown by region:
- New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) – 66%
- Pacific (CA, OR, WA, AK, HI) – 62%
- South Atlantic (VA, WV, SC, NC, GA, FL) – 57%
- Mid-Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA, DE, DC, MD) – 52%
- Midwest (MN, IA, MO, KS, NE, SD, ND, WI, MI, IL, IN, OH) – 49%
- Mountain (NV, WY, MT, UT, CO, ID, AZ, NM) – 48%
- Southwest (OK, TX, AR, LA) – 36%
- South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) – 25%
Talent Acquisition and Retention are Key Reasons Why Companies Don’t Test for Cannabis
While exactly half (50%) of employers who choose not to test for cannabis do so because of state laws legalizing it, more than a third (37%) say that talent acquisition and retention are drivers that have led them not to test. Here’s a breakdown of all the reasons employers gave for not pre-hire testing for cannabis:
- 50% - Cannabis legalization in our state
- 37% - Talent acquisition and retention
- 25% - Company culture and values
- 19% - Administrative burdens
- 15% - Lack of safety concerns in our workplace
- 15% - Costs
- 8% - Employee pushback
Employers That Don’t Test for Cannabis Are Split on Testing for Other Controlled Substances
Almost half of employers who don’t test for cannabis (45%) also don’t test for other controlled substances such as opiates, PCP, cocaine, or amphetamines – while 55% of employers continue to administer something akin to the classic five-panel drug test for applicants.
Many Employers That Test Applicants for Cannabis Face Recruiting Roadblocks
Close to half (44%) of employers that require pre-hire cannabis testing report that they have faced challenges in recruiting qualified candidates because of their policy, underscoring how things have changed in the modern workplace.
