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New York Finally Legalizes Recreational Marijuana

Knowledge

New York Finally Legalizes Recreational Marijuana

Key Takeaways

  • New York legalizes recreational marijuana effective immediately

  • The law amends New York Labor Law § 201-d, also known as the Lawful Activities Act, to provide protections to certain individuals who legally use cannabis outside of work hours, off of the employer’s premises, and without use of the employer’s equipment or other property

  • Employers are advised to review the employee handbook, employee drug testing policies, and to train managers on the implications of MRTA

 

New York is the latest state to legalize recreation marijuana. On March 31, 2021, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) into law, ending New York’s several year delay in agreeing on a marijuana legalization law.

While MRTA has many layers that will have a widespread effect on many New Yorkers, it will also undoubtedly have an effect on employers.

What Should Employers Do Now?

Employers are advised to review the employee handbook, employee drug testing policies, and to train managers on the implications of MRTA. Unless an employer has a legal requirement to conduct pre-employment drug tests (e.g., certain safety sensitive position), conducting pre-employment drug tests is likely no longer a viable applicant screening method.

Employers that suspect an employee is under the influence of marijuana at work should think carefully as to how to handle such situations. By way of example, due to current marijuana testing capabilities, it may be hard to determine if the employee is under the influence at work. In those instances, employers are well advised to focus on the employee’s performance issues if they exist.

Finally, employers should be careful to delineate between recreational marijuana use and medical marijuana use and to respond to such scenarios accordingly.

History of New York Labor Law § 201-d

New York Labor Law § 201-d, also known as the Lawful Activities Act, was enacted in the early 90s with the goal of prohibiting employment discrimination against individuals engaging in legal activities during non-work hours. A driving force behind § 201-d is understood to have been to combat tobacco smokers and drinkers of alcohol from being discriminated against.

Indeed, § 201-d prohibits an employer from refusing to hire, employ, license, or discharge an employee because of his or her (1) individual political activities outside of working hours and off the employer’s premises; (2) legal use of consumable products prior to and after the conclusion of the employee’s working hours and off the employer’s premises; (3) legal recreational activities outside work hours and off the employer’s premises; and (4) membership in a union or any exercise of rights created under Title 29, U.S.C. Chapter 7 or under Article 14 of the Civil Service Law.

Nearly 30 years later, there is sparse caselaw interpreting and adjudicating § 201-d claims. With that said, some § 201-d cases have tested the borders of the law, including cases where an individual alleged § 201-d violations where their employer terminated their employment for violating its fraternization policy by dating a coworker. Notably, courts have rejected that “a dating relationship” falls within the definition of “recreational activities” as defined in § 201-d.

MRTA’s amendment of § 201-d may spark an uptick in claims made under this law.

MRTA Amends New York Labor Law § 201-d

MRTA amends § 201-d to provide protections to certain individuals who legally use cannabis outside of work hours, off of the employer’s premises, and without use of the employer’s equipment or other property.

However, the law also expressly states that it is not a violation of § 201-d when the employer takes action related to the use of cannabis when:

  • The employer’s actions were required by a state or federal statute, regulation, or mandate
  • The employee is impaired by the use of cannabis (e.g., the employee manifests specific articulable symptoms while working that decrease or lessen the employee’s performance of the duties/tasks of the job position; or such specific articulable symptoms interfere with an employer’s obligation to provide a safe and healthy workplace, free from recognized hazards, as required by state and federal occupational safety and health law)
  • The employer’s actions would require the employer to commit any act in violation of federal law or would result in the loss of a federal contract or federal funding

Additionally, MRTA states that it is not intended to:

  • Limit the authority of any employers to enact and enforce policies pertaining to cannabis in the workplace
  • Allow driving under the influence of cannabis
  • Allow individuals to engage in conduct that endangers others
  • Allow smoking cannabis in any location where smoking tobacco is prohibited
  • Require any individual to engage in any conduct that violates federal law or to exempt anyone from any requirement of federal law or pose any obstacle to the federal enforcement of federal law

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