Question

I am an HR manager at a manufacturing company.  Several supervisors have noticed that some employees return from lunch (off-site) smelling like marijuana.  While they don’t seem impaired, the odor is strong. Can we address this without sending them for drug testing? I know marijuana tests can show positive results from previous use, so I’m hesitant to pursue inconclusive testing.

Answer

Your question is one we hear often on the Helpline.  Employees may be unaware that just because marijuana is legal in Massachusetts, they cannot come to work while under the influence.  It is like alcohol in that regard.

You can inform employees individually and privately that they smell of marijuana.  It is not a direct accusation of recent use, but it serves as a reminder that they cannot smoke before reporting to work. Be sure that you have the following policies in place:

• Drug and Alcohol Policy: A drug and alcohol policy prohibiting reporting to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This should include a provision that the company will test employees when there is reasonable suspicion that an employee is impaired from use of drugs or alcohol.
• Dress and Grooming Policy: A policy against strong scents can help. The policy can be enforced against an employee who smells like marijuana, even if the odor is from secondhand smoke and not the employee’s own use.

Your supervisors should be trained to identify signs of impairment, even in the absence of an odor. This can be a difficult situation to manage but it is very important to address it, particularly when employees are in safety-sensitive roles.

Additional Resources

If AIM members have questions about drugs in the workplace or any other HR issue, they may call the AIM HR Helpline at 800-470-6277 or email us at helpline@AIMnet.org.

AIM HR Solutions offers expert support for training supervisors with a comprehensive range of courses designed to build essential skills. Our newly released 2025 Training Catalog introduces updated Supervisor Essentials options tailored to meet today’s workplace needs.

In addition to supervisor training, we assist with handbook policy development and provide thorough handbook reviews to ensure compliance and effectiveness. For more details, explore our 2025 catalog or reach out to us directly.