Here’s what it means for Oklahoma employers if the Unity Bill gets the green light in August.
Like the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Act (OMMA), the Unity Bill, or House Bill 2612, prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants or employees solely based on having a medical marijuana license or a positive drug screen. However, the new bill clarifies when an employer can take action.
Right now, the Unity Bill has an August 29 tentative effective date. The date is subject to change based on the current civil suit against the bill.
Under the bill, an employer can take action if an employee or applicant:
- Doesn’t have a valid medical marijuana license
- Consumes, possesses, or is under the influence of medical marijuana while at the workplace or during work hours
- Has safety-sensitive job duties
Safety-sensitive job duties include but are not limited to: working with hazardous material, operating machinery, driving, food handling, dispensing pharmaceuticals, direct patient or child care, and any position in which the employee carries a firearm. Employers are not required to accommodate the use of medical marijuana on your company’s property or premises in Oklahoma.
Nextep will continue to closely monitor the situation and keep clients informed. For additional questions, please contact us.
