What if Marijuana was Legal in the United States?

Recently US Representatives have actually Introduced a Bill to Legalize Marijuana in the United States.  So the natural question is what would the employment implications of this action be?

What if marijuana was legal in the United States?  The proposed legislation is being proposed by Ron Paul (R) and Barney Frank (D) as the bill sponsors. The legislation is co-sponsored by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland).  The Bill is HR 2306, the bill known as Ending the Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2011.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/lawmakers-introduce-bill-legalize-marijuana-225335489.html

Let us pretend that for a moment this bill passes and in fact becomes law.

Don’t do it.

You fall into the trap of having to constantly worry about tests, job loss, being black listed etc.  You will also need to know by heart everything contained in articles like this; How to Pass a Drug Test.

But, right now it is legal I can do whatever I want to.

No you cannot because it would first only eliminate the ban on a Federal Government level.  The State you reside in will still be setting laws regarding the use of marijuana.

Secondly even if State and again Local governments are cool with the possession and use of Marijuana I can almost certainly guarantee you that the majority of employers will not be.

Seriously, it would be legal everywhere I live, at all levels of government.

Just as cigarettes are legal it does not allow you to smoke at your leisure at work, on your lunch or even at home. Same with alcohol, the days of drinking at work for the vast majority of employees are long past.

Companies have fought and gained permission to have the option to ban smoking or other use of tobacco products completely.  Even smoking on your own time in your own home is forbidden and you will lose your job if you test positive for nicotine and your employer forbids you from doing so.

This complete ban on participating in legal activities has been allowed time and again in the courts because of the added healthcare costs associated with the activities that it puts onto the burden of employers.

Not to mention for industries that involve having employees operate heavy machinery where employee safety is of utter importance, the liability insurance standpoint would not look kindly on legal marijuana.

So in the event that Congress all decide to join a circle and smoke a peace pipe to give US Citizens a little bit more liberty, chances are your employer will not be following suit.