U.S. Regulatory Issues: Drug Testing

Medical marijuana law does not apply to private employers and does not protect employees from being fired for drug use, according to a ruling by the Washington Supreme Court. One judge dissented, arguing that the law should be rewritten.

Prison officials are protected from liability for using technology to search visitors for drugs. In the case, a prison facility scanned visitors for drugs using a portable ion scanning machine. Individuals who were screened argued that the scan violated their Fourth Amendment rights but the appellate court disagreed, ruling that the machine was not intrusive.