Cannabis Employment Laws by State

Can your employer test you for cannabis or fire you for off-duty use? Employment protections for cannabis users vary dramatically across the United States. Some states like New York and California have enacted strong protections prohibiting testing and adverse action for off-duty use, while the majority still allow employers to test and terminate freely. Explore each state's cannabis employment laws below.

7
States with Full Protections
7
Partial Protections
37
No Protection
Protected
Partial Protection
No Protection

Alabama

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Alaska

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Arizona

Partial Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionYes

Arkansas

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

California

Protected
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionYes
Medical ProtectionNo

Colorado

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Connecticut

Protected
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionYes
Medical ProtectionYes

Delaware

Partial Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionYes

District of Columbia

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Florida

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Georgia

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Hawaii

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Idaho

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Illinois

Protected
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionYes
Medical ProtectionYes

Indiana

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Iowa

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Kansas

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Kentucky

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Louisiana

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Maine

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Maryland

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Massachusetts

Partial Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionYes

Michigan

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Minnesota

Protected
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionYes
Medical ProtectionYes

Mississippi

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Missouri

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Montana

Partial Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionYes
Medical ProtectionYes

Nebraska

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Nevada

Protected
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionYes
Medical ProtectionYes

New Hampshire

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

New Jersey

Protected
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionYes
Medical ProtectionYes

New Mexico

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

New York

Protected
Employer Can TestRestricted
Off-Duty ProtectionYes
Medical ProtectionYes

North Carolina

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

North Dakota

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Ohio

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Oklahoma

Partial Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionYes

Oregon

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Pennsylvania

Partial Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionYes

Rhode Island

Partial Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionYes

South Carolina

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

South Dakota

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Tennessee

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Texas

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Utah

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Vermont

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Virginia

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Washington

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

West Virginia

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Wisconsin

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Wyoming

No Protection
Employer Can TestYes
Off-Duty ProtectionNo
Medical ProtectionNo

Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Cannabis remains illegal under US federal law. State employment laws and regulations are subject to change and may vary by local jurisdiction. Federal employees, contractors, and workers in DOT-regulated and safety-sensitive industries are generally subject to federal drug-free workplace requirements regardless of state law. Always verify current laws with official state resources and consult with a qualified employment attorney. Cannabismarketcap does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information presented.