Across the United States, there are varying drug testing laws that are enforced, and the legislation surrounding this topic is always changing. In fact, in 2024 alone, over 500 new bills related to drug testing were introduced. This includes employment drug testing laws and leniency surrounding marijuana use.
As of 2024, 21 total states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, with Colorado and Washington as the pioneers. For medical use, 38 states and DC have legalized the substance. However, positive marijuana tests have increased by over 45% in the past 5 years, which could have serious implications for safety-sensitive industries. In order to mitigate these potential risks, there has been a heightened crackdown on cheating, with new policies being put into effect.
States like North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Texas are among the several states that have already implemented anti-cheating policies when it comes to drug testing. These policies include detailed check-in times, adulterant tests, dilution detection, and more. There are also specific industries that are testing their workforce more often for drug use. Energy utilities are leading the charge, closely followed by transportation, manufacturing, trade and construction industries. In order to prepare businesses for the changes of the future, drug testing technology must evolve as our legislation does.
Source: USDrugTestCenters.com