Workplace Drug Testing Laws for Ohio

Under Ohio law, there are no requirements for private employers to implement a drug-free testing policy.

However, the State of Ohio does encourage employers to implement such a policy by providing Workers’ Compensation premium discounts for implementing a policy that follows Ohio’s Drug-Free Safety Program.

The Ohio statute has set the eligibility requirements and type of programs available for employers to choose from. The program overall follows federal regulations.

In Ohio, drug and alcohol addiction is considered a disability so employers cannot discriminate against an employee if he or she informs them of their addiction.

Additionally, Ohio employers should keep in mind that Medical Marijuana is legal in the state; however, employers can still test for Marijuana and its metabolites and discharge employees for positive results.

The Medical Marijuana statute implements protections for employers such as defining positive test results as “just cause” for termination and does not allow a cause of action against an employer for discharging or refusing to hire an employee who tests positive despite having a Medical Marijuana card.