Weed is legal in more states than not these days. Whether medical or recreational, there are not a ton of cities left where responsibly and legally enjoying a joint, weed cookie, or vape pen is barred. Still, legalization doors remain closed for some professionals who must remain completely sober for their line of work, but other jobs don’t require the same. Few workplaces allow noticeably stoned people. That said, there is the question of whether employees and potential job candidates should smell like the plant.
RELATED: Calif. cities clear cannabis tourism hurdles in recent push
A person smelling like weed does not necessarily mean that they are stoned at that moment, meaning that the aroma may not impact their work. CoAdvantage director of human resources, Christine Ramos, shared with GreenState.
“If an employee smells of marijuana and is exhibiting signs of impairment that could lead to safety concerns, an employer is within their right to make a decision about whether that employee is fit for duty,” Ramos said. “If no impairment signs are present, I believe the next step would be to address the smell itself as you would any other personal hygiene situation should it be causing a disturbance to co-workers.”
Dank aromas best kept at home
Human resources and etiquette experts agree that the most significant issue, beyond job-impacting impairment, is how the scent impacts others in the workspace. Those who live in California report smelling cannabis smoke daily through open windows or while walking down the sidewalk. It has become a regular part of daily life. However, professionals agree that showing up to an interview or workday reeking of pot is not acceptable.
Whether it is perfume, deodorant, a hygiene issue, or marijuana–if the scent is disrupting others, it needs to be addressed. Handle talking to the weed-loving employee with care and not in a way that ostracizes them. On the other hand, if no one is harmed, some people may be fine with a parfum de pot.
Gregg Ward serves as executive director for The Center For Respectful Leadership, an educational company that teaches leaders (many of whom are in HR) to inspire employees with mutual respect. He agrees there is a time and place for cannabis on the job.
“Even though cannabis use is legal, the only employees who should smell like they use it are the folks who work in weed shops or people who work in residential landscape maintenance outdoors, but not when they’re using power tools,” Ward said. “And come to think of it, I make the same recommendation regarding adult employees who drink alcohol in their off hours.”
There is a consensus among experts that weed scents will only be an issue if they disturb others or point to consumption that alters the person’s ability to work. It may also earn a person a reputation that they may or may not mind. Those who come to work dank on the daily will likely be known as stoner colleagues, which could be good or bad–depending.
Wider implications of smelling like weed at work
Those hoping to avoid an uncomfortable meeting with HR or serving as the subject of water cooler talk may want to keep a smoking jacket for their seshes and stay conscious of whether aromas are following them into the office.
Patrice Williams-Lindo, workplace culture expert and CEO of Career Nomad, agreed with this assessment. It is not a question of the law but rather workplace culture. Smelling like weed at work, whether stoned or not, alters how colleagues, clients, and leadership view a person.
“Fair or not, scent carries signals—and for some, it triggers bias or concern about credibility,” Williams-Lindo said.
Work performance is the strongest driver of whether cannabis consumption is an issue on the job. And sometimes, whether or not the person is performing well, could harken on their reputation. If people are talking, it could deter someone from consideration for promotions or working with others on high-reward projects. Keeping an open dialogue about cannabis use rather than fueling gossip is recommended to avoid potential discrimination.
RELATED: These MVP weed strains back up their famed names
Many medical patients consume cannabis to hit a workday baseline that could be compared to that of a sober non-medical patient coworker. This may not be a problem for people working in appropriate fields. Those with this level of cannabis need often avoid work as a first responder, with children, or with heavy machinery because the two do not mix. However, if a high-needs patient meets goals in a job where safety is no issue–what’s it to HR?
Cannabis culture is shifting as it seeps into the mainstream through various legalization moves. One of these new frontiers is how to manage cannabis in the workplace. As long as the work is getting done at a high quality in a legal state, being a cannabis consumer seems A-okay. When it comes down purely to smell, the consensus seems to be: ask your coworkers if it’s a problem.
