Nicole Truso Speaks to MSPBJ About Marijuana Legalization in Minnesota

Labor and employment partner Nicole Truso spoke to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (MSPBJ) about the 2023 Minnesota legislative session and the end of the adult use cannabis prohibition in the state.

In “Here Are the Biggest Ways the 2023 Legislative Session Will Impact Minnesota Businesses,” Truso said that for some businesses, the end of the prohibition raises questions about drug testing and being able to establish drug-free work zones.

“What the new law does is effectively treat marijuana and cannabis products like alcohol,” she noted. “And I think setting it up that way means that employers have to assume that the use of cannabis and marijuana outside of work is okay, ignoring the potential long-term impact that it could have on their workplace and workplace safety.”

In “How Minnesota marijuana legalization will affect workplace drug policies: A lawyer explains,” Truso answered questions on how the new law will impact businesses and what employers need to know. “The way the law is set up, an employer can’t take action unless they can show that a person is impaired by the use of marijuana in the workplace,” she explained.

“It puts employers in a place where they don’t have clear guidelines as to when they can take action against an employee because of the way that marijuana is impacting their behavior in the workplace — and potentially puts employers in a place where they hesitate to take action when they suspect marijuana use,” Truso added.

The full articles are available for MSPBJ subscribers.