CBD Oil and Workplace Drug Testing

August 22, 2019
Press Release
Drugs & Alcohol
Read time: 3 mins

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Kathryn Klopfer, [email protected] | 262.696.3426

CBD Oil and Workplace Drug Testing

MILWAUKEE, WI (AUGUST 22, 2019)With the state’s legalization of the sale and use of cannabidiol (CBD), CBD oil is increasingly available in stores across the state of Wisconsin. The new legalization is leaving business owners asking how does CBD use affect drug testing and workplace drug policies?

Said Laurie Greenlees, Director of MRA – The Management Associations’ HR Hotline, “We have been receiving an increasing number of inquiries on the hotline asking about employee CBD use and workplace drug testing results.”

Wisconsin has legalized the sale and use of CBD, or cannabidiol, an active ingredient in cannabis; however, CBD contains just trace amounts or no THC, the psychoactive chemical found in marijuana.  Marijuana remains illegal in Wisconsin, although a proposal legalizing its use for medical conditions and decriminalizing possession of small amounts has been introduced.  The proposal faces an uncertain future.

CBD is a non-intoxicating chemical compound made from marijuana and hemp plants that is said to provide medicinal benefits without a high. Like marijuana and cannabis, the federal government has historically viewed CBD as an illegal “Schedule I” substance. However, last September the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made CBD with THC below 0.1% a “Schedule 5” drug, as long as the medication is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

“With regards to employers and drug testing, the bottom line is that CBD itself would not report a positive drug result for marijuana or marijuana metabolite; however, CBD with a sufficiently high concentration of THC, more than what is legal in Wisconsin, could produce a positive result,” added Michael Hyatt, HR Government Affairs Director for MRA.

According to MRA, an employer who has an employee or applicant who has failed a drug test should follow its company’s drug policy, which likely includes having a Medical Review Officer (MRO) review positive results. If an employer chooses to test--a clearly written and well-disseminated drug test policy forms the basis of a successful drug-free workplace program.

For more information on drug policies, procedures and other related HR issues, contact MRA’s HR Hotline at 866.474.6854

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About MRA—The Management Association: Founded in 1901, MRA is a nonprofit employer association that serves 4,000 employers, covering more than one million employees worldwide. As one of the largest employer associations in the nation, MRA helps its members thrive by offering comprehensive HR services, talent management, learning and organization development opportunities, and total rewards planning. MRA helps organizations build a successful workplace and powerful workforce. Headquartered in Waukesha, WI, MRA has regional offices in Palatine, IL; Moline, IL; and Plymouth, MN. To learn more about MRA, visit www.mranet.org.