How Legal Marijuana Impacted U.S. Businesses

Over the course of United States history, change has been one of the few constants. While many ideologies and philosophies have been subject to revision, the 21st century has been a specific hallmark of change in the US. One major change only within the last decade has been the attitude on marijuana’s legalization. For example, as of 2023, a staggering 70% of US adults support the legalization of marijuana for recreational usage. At the same time, over half of those adults live in a state where it is legal and many more live in a state with restricted legal access. So, what are some unintended consequences with legal marijuana?

From an economic standpoint, one major change has been around employee productivity. It is estimated that 11% of US employees admit to using marijuana. Half of those admit to using marijuana, even say that they use it before work or at the workplace. Because the social attitude has shifted, this is becoming the norm, however. Nearly half of all employers have stopped testing for marijuana in the pre-hire process, whether due to company policy or to be compliant with new pro-marijuana legislation. Ultimately, this change affects manufacturing to retail industries alike. If you want to make sure your business is safe, it’s important to stay apprised of the marijuana legislation in your state.

Source: US Drug Test Centers