WILTON — Prompted by the state’s legalization of recreational cannabis in 2021, officials adopted an updated substance abuse policy for town employees this week.

While legalized in the state, the town reserves the right to determine how it considers potential employees during the hiring process who use recreational cannabis. The policy also doesn’t allow employees to be under the influence of cannabis or be in possession of it at work.

“With the legalization of recreational and palliative cannabis, it is important for employees to know and understand our workplace rules,” First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice said Wednesday. “It is also important for the town to adopt the policy to meet the statute's requirement that a policy must be adopted for us to continue our current practices, including requiring a cannabis test of candidates.”

The Board of Selectmen met with attorney Rebecca Goldberg at the most recent regular selectmen meeting, before passing the revision unanimously at a special meeting on Monday. Vanderslice did this as the statewide statute that legalized cannabis includes employment laws goes into effect on July 1.

“While you’re not required to have a policy on July 1, the problem is, you become substantially limited in terms of what you can do in terms of disciplining or terminating employees or not giving consideration to applicants because of cannabis use,” Goldberg told the selectmen.

She clarified that applicants cannot be discriminated against for...

Read Full Story: https://www.wiltonbulletin.com/news/article/Cannabis-is-legal-in-CT-but-Wilto...