Connecticut: Federal Law Does Not Preempt Medical Marijuana Protections for Employees under State Law
APPLIES TO All Employers with CT Employees |
EFFECTIVE August 8, 2017 |
QUESTIONS? Contact HR On-Call |
In Noffsinger v. SSC Niantic Operating Company LLC, a Connecticut federal district court stated that federal law concerning unlawful marijuana use does not necessarily preempt state-level protections for marijuana users. In this case, Connecticut’s Palliative Use of Marijuana Act (“PUMA”) was found to preempt a handful of federal statutes when applied to the employment context. This decision could have a major impact on employers who currently implement a zero-tolerance substance abuse policy in the workplace.