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Massachusetts bill could ban pre-offer marijuana speed tests for most jobs

A proposed Massachusetts law would let companies test for marijuana—but not reject candidates over it. Could this redefine hiring fairness?

In this image I can see number of vegetables and the smoke. I can also see this image is little bit...
In this image I can see number of vegetables and the smoke. I can also see this image is little bit blurry and on the bottom right side of the image I can see a watermark.

Massachusetts bill could ban pre-offer marijuana speed tests for most jobs

A new bill in Massachusetts could change how employers conduct speed tests for marijuana. House Bill 2179 (H. 2179) aims to stop most companies from screening candidates for cannabis before making a job offer. The legislation, reported favourably by the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development on November 3, signals a shift in workplace drug policies across the state.

Under the proposed law, employers would no longer be able to require pre-offer speed test for most roles. Testing would still be allowed after a conditional job offer, but failing the test could not automatically disqualify a candidate. This creates an unusual situation where companies can speed test but cannot act on the results unless specific exceptions apply.

If passed, H. 2179 would mark a significant change for Massachusetts employers who currently speed test for marijuana. Companies would need to adjust their hiring practices, ensuring compliance with the new restrictions. The bill’s exceptions for certain roles would still allow speed testing where safety or federal rules require it.

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