Employers across the nation are considering dropping marijuana from drug tests.
Businesses said marijuana testing excludes too many potential workers at a time when filling jobs is more challenging than it's been in nearly 20 years.
Marijuana, once a taboo drug now becoming more acceptable in society. It’s already legal in nine states. In the Carolinas, some lawmakers pushing for pot to be used for medical reasons.
The idea of dropping marijuana from drug tests sparked quite the conversation, especially among college students who’ll be entering the work force soon.
“It should probably be dropped from drug testing just because the amount of people that do it,” said Jamari, a sophomore at Winthrop University. “It’s a stress reliever from what I heard.”
New research showed nationwide 57 percent of companies conduct drug tests and will most likely continue to do so. Experts said most of these jobs require hands on attention such as hospital settings and social work.
If marijuana is removed from drug testing, experts said this will be first major drug policy change in the workplace in nearly 40 years.