It seems like a lifetime ago that we first posted on the legalization of cannabis in Illinois and its effect on Illinois employers, way back in November 2019. At that time we provided a detailed overview of the clarifications and updates to the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (“Cannabis Act”) as it relates to use in the workplace. Of course, use of cannabis at the workplace, or use that leads to impairment of an employee while on duty at the workplace, is allowed to be prohibited by the employer, even in a state where it is legal, such as Illinois. That is essentially a common sense no-brainer as it implicates safety concerns, and can be analogized to the use of alcohol at the workplace. But, the question remained to what extent can a positive drug test for cannabis (separate from impairment or use at the workplace) be used to deny or terminate employment, especially when that use was “recreational” and done off duty?
