Medical Cannabis Reclassification Raises Concerns Over Drug Testing

The reclassification of medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III has raised concerns about its impact on safety-sensitive jobs and workplace drug policies. Drug testing experts Angela Garrison, chief operating officer of Tomo Drug Testing, and Shana Hamilton, vice president of client advocacy, warn the change could create risks for employers, employees and the public.

Garrison believes the reclassification could affect Department of Transportation (DOT) testing requirements for pilots, truck drivers, railroad workers and school bus drivers. “There needs to be a safety carve-out,” she says, allowing safety-sensitive occupations to continue testing for cannabis regardless of its classification or whether use is medical or recreational.

Garrison and Hamilton agree employers should base testing policies on whether a position requires constant alertness to perform safely. Cannabis contains varying levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can impair motor skills and judgment.

Hamilton encourages employers to “shift their thinking from how do we handle marijuana to how do we keep our workplace safe?” She recommends tailoring policies to different roles, clearly communicating rules, training supervisors to recognize impairment and providing employee assistance programs.

Employees who use cannabis outside work may still test positive because THC can remain detectable after impairment ends. Both experts recommend employers work with a medical review officer to determine whether a positive test has a legitimate medical explanation and document any valid medical circumstances.

Hamilton also encourages recovery-friendly and second-chance hiring strategies rather than eliminating marijuana testing simply to expand the talent pool.

Visit https://bit.ly/MMERIJuly2026 to watch MMERI’s Conversations on Cannabis Virtual Forum featuring drug testing experts Angela Garrison and Shana Hamilton discuss “A New Era of Drug Testing Practices.”