My employee smells like weed
I can see why people still need HR. On a regular basis, I have people writing and asking about drugs. Mostly marijuana. Questions like, “My employee smells like weed. What can I do?”

Part of me sympathizes with business owners and managers. It hardly seems fair that you have to show up to work sober while some other dude rolls into the office high. I’d love to smoke weed all day, too, but adulthood beckons.

But another part of me is like, really, how do you know what this employee smells like? There are a lot of reasons why people might smell like marijuana. And, depending on the job, does sobriety matter?

[Sidenote: That last question isn’t easy. Some say that sobriety always matters at work. Employees have an obligation to be present, be engaged, and create a culture of safety. Others think that weed is no big deal, and given certain circumstances, it might increase engagement by abating anxiety or other medical issues.]

If your employee smells like weed, I think it’s important to “work human.” Just because she smells like weed doesn’t mean she’s high. And just because you smell it doesn’t mean that other people smell it.

I would also ask you to consider your own biases and personal life experiences when determining whether or not this is a big deal. Lots of successful people smoke weed and get high. Are you bringing your own fears and assumptions to this encounter? Do you have political or religious beliefs that are impacting your judgment on this situation?

Then there’s the messy intersection of health privacy laws and local drug regulations, too.

If I’m in your shoes as an employer, I would take a pause. Check your assumptions, and definitely talk to someone in human resources before you even consider writing to a blogger.

You need information and support from a source that can help. That resource is HR.

Category: Work6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Good article and outlook. Working in tech, I smell quite a bit of the ganj as I walk in each morning. Frankly, doesn’t matter to me what another person puts in their body as long as they’re doing their job, though my industry is a bit of an outlier that way (or maybe not?).

    Furthermore, anyone who has done an NYC commute sober should understand the push to smoke before you subway.

  2. Probably important to note that even where states have legalized “weed,” for both medical and recreational uses, there is still a Federal law on the books (Controlled Substances Act of 1970) that still considers it to be a controlled substance. My understanding is that Federal law still trumps state law, so technically, could someone in Colorado who is under the influence marijuana could still be terminated for cause?

  3. Love the article however in industries with safety sensitive functions (drivers, fork lift operators, etc) smelling weed is an accident waiting to happen. I certainly understand in other sectors but not in others. I never assume unless I witness. My drivers know what would happen as Federal Law mandates no use at all and we do have random drug tests mandated. Overall, just depends on your industry.

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