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Study: 1 in 5 small businesses would allow medical marijuana use at work

Small businesses more tolerant of employees who use medical marijuana, other prescription drugs at work.

By Rosalie L. Donlon | Updated on October 14, 2015

The use of medical marijuana continues to pose a dilemma for employers, especially small businesses, even though marijuana is legal in 24 states for medicinal or recreational purposes. According to a new poll by EMPLOYERS, a small business Workers’ Compensation insurance specialist, small businesses have mixed feelings about its presence in the workplace. One in five small business owners (19%) said they would allow an employee who has a doctor’s prescription for medical marijuana to use it at work, while nearly two-thirds of small business owners (62%) said they would not. Another 17% of small business owners were not sure whether they would allow employees to use the drug while at work.

“We encourage all small businesses to maintain drug-free workplaces because employees who are under the influence of illicit substances, or misuse or abuse prescription drugs, can put themselves, other employees or customers at risk of injury or other harm,” said Dr. Dwight Robertson, medical director, EMPLOYERS. “The most important step employers can take is to have a clearly documented workplace safety policy that specifically addresses drug use in the workplace.”

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