Marijuana’s nationwide reputation has done a cultural 180, shifting from an illegal substance worthy of jail time, to a medicinal and recreational one that’s protected by anti-discriminatory laws.
A decade ago, more than half of all drug arrests were because of marijuana, according to the ACLU, and states spent more than $3 billion per year enforcing marijuana laws. Today, 21 states consider it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees for use of medical marijuana. Five states and seven cities, including Washington D.C. and Atlanta, protect employees from discrimination based on the recreational use of marijuana.
