Insurance and Risk Management Implications of Marijuana Legalization Following 2016 Elections

In the 2016 US elections, voters in eight states approved measures legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational use. These are just the latest states where local laws conflict with federal drug laws.

Employers in these and other states must balance the new laws not only against federal requirements, but also against employees’ rights and the imperative to maintain safe and drug-free workplaces.

In “Insurance and Risk Management Implications of Marijuana Legalization Following 2016 Elections,” we summarize the current status of marijuana legalization in all 50 US states and discuss:

• The implications of marijuana legalization on workers’ compensation, including a review of relevant case law.
• The efficacy of marijuana use as medical treatment.
• Implication on workers’ compensation, employment practices liability insurance, auto liability, and general liability.
• How courts have dealt with the issue of employers’ responsibility to maintain safe workplaces while respecting employee rights.

Read or download “Insurance and Risk Management Implications of Marijuana Legalization Following 2016 Elections” for full coverage of how the trend toward marijuana legalization is affecting employers’ risk and insurance programs.