Alaska - Considerations for Marijuana in the Workplace

Last Update on April 18, 2023

Medical
Marijuana Law:

Recreational
Marijuana Law:

Employer Concerns – Significant to Review

Nothing in law requires any accommodation of medical marijuana use in any place of employment and that employers can make their own rules about use. However, due to case decision in Luedtke v. Nabors Alaska Drilling, to discipline or fire an employee for drug test results, there must be some “nexus between the use and the work.”

Testing

Hiring/Termination

Discipline

Use/Possession

No use in public except state-sanctioned places.
Smoking is permitted.
State-operated insurance does not cover the costs of marijuana.

Other Impacting Laws

(e.g., drug testing, workers’ compensation, unemployment)

Alaska has a voluntary drug testing law and an unemployment law with many details about drug testing. Although not required, these statutes provide extensive legal protections for employers complying with these voluntary laws including greater latitude to deny workers’ compensation and unemployment claims.
Alaska addresses drug testing in their unemployment law with many details. An insured worker is disqualified from receiving benefits if he or she was discharged for misconduct including a violation of an employer’s policy concerning the use of drugs or alcohol. This is only true if the employer’s drug-free policy and program are consistent with Alaska’s voluntary drug testing law and specifications in the unemployment law.
An injury is not compensable if the injury was proximately caused by employee’s intoxication or under-theinfluence (unless drug prescribed by his/her physician). It is unknown whether a physician’s recommendation can qualify.

Apply the Checklist of Impacting Issues to Research provided by NDS to research additional state laws that can relate to and/or impact your operations regarding employee use of marijuana.

Sources

(e.g., Bill Number, Authority)

Alaska Statute 17.37, 17.38 et al – Regulation of marijuana
AS 23.30.235 – Workers’ compensation related
AS 23.20.379 – Unemployment related
AS 23.10.600 -699 – Voluntary drug testing law

Disclaimer

This resource is designed to provide accurate information regarding the subject matter covered. It is provided with the understanding that those involved in the resource are not engaged in rendering legal counsel. If legal advice is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Caution

Where there are quotation marks, the language is directly from published law. This information is only a summary of some issues and it will benefit the reader to review the information in context (go to the law) and in relation to other laws (e.g. workers compensation, unemployment law).

Drug Testing in Alaska

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Drug Testing Laws for Alaska

No two states have same the same drug testing State Laws – Check out state laws for Drug Testing.

Alaska - Considerations for Marijuana in the Workplace

Medical
Marijuana Law:

Recreational
Marijuana Law:

Employer Concerns – Significant to Review

Testing

Hiring/Termination

Discipline

Use/Possession

Other Impacting Laws

Sources

Drug Testing in Alaska

Drug Testing Laws for Alaska

Other States Marijuana Considerations

Set Up An Employer Account

Join Our Collection Site Network

Drug Testing Information

Navigation

Alaska - Considerations for Marijuana in the Workplace

MedicalMarijuana Law:

RecreationalMarijuana Law:

Employer Concerns – Significant to Review

Testing

Hiring/Termination

Discipline

Use/Possession

Other Impacting Laws

Sources

Drug Testing in Alaska

Drug Testing Laws for Alaska

Other States Marijuana Considerations

Set Up An Employer Account

Join Our Collection Site Network

Drug Testing Information

Navigation

Medical
Marijuana Law:

Recreational
Marijuana Law: