This is great news! Should've happened a long time ago but better late than never

The article goes into some detail about the inapplicability of various tests, but says nothing about how employers can detect whether a worker is impaired.

Are we left with employers just making subjective judgements about whether a person showing up to work seems like they're under the influence?

Doesn’t it say that this is for initial employment?

God I really need to move out west sooner than later. I live in fucking Indiana, Washington is one of our top picks to move to though. Hopefully within 2 years.

Housing and the cost of living as super high here, but we’d be glad to have you. Expecting lots more red state refugees in the years to come.

I'm surprised we haven't gotten more yet from even Idaho or Montana

Yeah I've looked into the housing and cost of living. I assume I'll be able to find a decent enough job to keep myself afloat. But won't be able to save as much as I do now more than likely. It's a change I'm more than willing to take. :)

Once you’re settled it’s not so bad. I don’t know what you do for a living, but minimum wage is over $15/hr here and in Seattle it’s even higher.

The problem is lots of people expect to move here without any job prospects or housing lined up, expecting to be able to float for a long time based on the cost of living in Oklahoma or Arkansas or wherever they’re coming from, and that’s unrealistic. But it sounds like you’re doing your due diligence already.

I do IT work. :) my girlfriend does school-based therapy for elementary/middle school aged kids.

How does this affect employers with large federal contracts that require a drug free workplace?

The first three paragraphs focus on that, but the bulk of the article is more general, and talks repeatedly about impairment.

Being a NORML article, it belabors the point that tests don't tell whether a person is impaired at the moment, only whether the substance has been used.

So I'm interested in any answer to the question, because the article doesn't address it.

Nice!!!! To bad my CDL is a federal license :(

The drug free workplace act doesn't require drug testing, just anti drug policies.

WA is an at will employment state. They can fire you if they believe you are impaired. There's no requirement for testing.

It will not change what certain federal agencies require. For instance, if you have a CDL license, you will still not be able to use pot and keep your job because the FMCSA says pot is bad. Marijuana will remain on the panel of drugs to test for.

Come on out. I'm in a light red county in Washington but still light years ahead of the south and Midwest. (Our state's prettier too 🙂)

Tri-cities has quite a few displaced Montanans over the years. Once they complete college they come on down either here or Spokane.

Ah yeah I'm across the mountains. We've got a lot of California's but I've been seeing an uptick in Texas plates lately

It wouldn't. You'd still have to abide by federal law.

That's the crux of it.

It's a nice mix, just a little warm 🙂

You'll fit right in. I love it here compared to the south. It's very grey though so be ready for that.

How often does it rain? That's my gf's biggest concern. Doesn't concern me a bit though. Lol

This is good to hear. I rarely smoke myself, but marijuana can stay in your system for weeks, and employers shouldn't be able to restrict employment just because you may have smoked a joint on your personal time two weeks ago. Imagine how many people would fail pre-employment screening if they did this for alcohol, and it is a far more dangerous drug than weed.

Summers aren’t so bad. The rest of the year you get a fair amount of drizzle and overcast.

It rains aLOT of days, but rarely all day.

But we still can't grow recreational Cannabis...Yet.

Rain here is "different" than other places. In summer it helps keep us nice and cool, in the winter it means we're going to be a bit warmer. We get the most rain during "The Long Dark" from end of Fall till beginning of Spring. Honestly, in my opinion, getting used to the long dark season of Seattle is the make or break point more than the rain for most people.

Other than the dark season, the rain here is usually light enough that it's not a big impedance or problem. Umbrellas are a bigger hassle than just dealing with a little moisture 9 times out of 10. There's a running joke about Seattleites refusing to use umbrellas or being able to identify tourists because they're using one lol

And “The Long Dark” doesn’t really hit people until they experience it. Folks think, “Oh, it gets dark at 5 in December/January? No big deal, it’s the same in other places.” But it’s not. 5 o clock winter sunsets here do not generally bring a serene twilight followed by a sky filled with stars - the perpetual cloud cover means it’s pitch-black at 5pm. I go to work and it’s pitch black. I come home and it’s pitch black. It gets to be a drag, and by the time Spring hits we’re all crawling out of our skin to get some of that gorram sunshine!!!

Rain is pretty consistent about 2/3-3/4 of the year. We’re just now starting to get some sunny days interspersed amongst rainy days.

Wait why tf are we an “at will” employment state and why am I only just now learning about this?? We should definitely be lobbying our representatives to change that policy ASAP

We're moving in a couple weeks. Much excite.

>go to work and it’s pitch black. I come home and it’s pitch black. It gets to be a drag

Very much this, I've lived in Washington for 23 years now and it wasn't until I got out of the Navy and started working here again did I realize how bad the darkness in the winter is.

It doesn't bother me too much anymore as I pretty much just turn to a super gamer/hermit during the winter. Then once Spring shows up it's time to start getting all the camping and hiking gear out and start planning weekends of fun.

The only state that isn't at will is Montana.

Big business owns WA state legislature. There's no chance of them passing reforms on that or allowing an initiative to change it.

I’ve lived here most of my life, and I hate it. The snowbirding lifestyle of my grandparents gets more appealing every year. Unfortunately if I’m ever able to retire all the Southern states will be on fire and uninhabitable anyway.

Like others have said, we have a lot of days with rain... but often that means an overcast day with a single hour of rain in it, or a gently falling mist that just hangs in the air which you can barely feel on your skin.

Once you have your standard issue heavy winter hoodie you'll be just fine.

Its only a problem in certain areas on the west side of the state.

Is there a map of what areas on the west get less rain? 🤔 we definitely want to be on the west side

Personly I like it. A person shouldn't need 30 reams of paper to prove a person's lack of suitability for a job. Its bad enough employers keep deadbeats on way too long as it is. Too afraid of lawsuits.

Probably find that in the U.S.National Weather Sercice - Seattle web page. But most cities listed in Wikipedia show a chart with average temps and rain. I think the actual rain is less than what it seems like. For me personally is the overcast skies that's more of an issue, i.e. the lack of sun, not the rain.

At will employment is the majority of the US

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I'm assuming this doesn't apply to federal positions

High frequency, for about 7 months out of the year, but low volume. Compare annual rainfall to where you currently live - I actually moved from a much wetter city.

Also - this is only for the west side of the mountains. Seattle and surrounding area. It's not a whole state thing.

> And “The Long Dark” doesn’t really hit people until they experience it.

This is true. People seem to think it will only affect you if you have SAD. But SAD is relative. We have a biological need for sunlight. Some people will have symptoms anywhere. But here, you have to make a specific effort to get your sunlight and vitamin d.

I never had issues before, even when it got very cold or very dark, because it wasn't so permanent. But now I'm really considering buying one of those blue light therapy things. Only reason I haven't is that I feel like I could make my own much cheaper.

> Summers aren’t so bad.

I would go further and say that summers are incredible. There's a lot of light. The day never ends. Rain is much less frequent, and actually refreshing when it does occur. It gets warm, but not incredibly hot. Only downside is how much denial people are in over the temperature, to the point they don't even have AC. That is a big mistake.

B-e-a-utiful!

Ditto, from arkansas. Looking to move near vancouver in 2 years.

Umbrella, what's that? lol 😆 Some people say, that's how you can tell who's not a local. When we first moved to WA, 12 years ago, I, too, carried an umbrella. Now, I just wear a coat with a hood.

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Would this be for all jobs? Government, hospitals, schools etc?

often, but the rain usually just sprinkles compared to anywhere else in the US. Gray drizzle is the usual weather here, second is perfectly sunny with blue skies. There was like one or two actual rainstorms last year.

I'm originally from Chicago and have been in Seattle for 6 months now. By far the mildest winter I've ever experienced. I was worried about the rain and cloudiness before coming out here as well, but the rain hardly is more than a drizzle. Plus the warm temperatures and more accepting people easily make up for having less sun in the winter

I think hospitals would still have to test due to federal regulations/licensure

Just did it bro, my life is a thousand times better.

It's meaningless.

They can test you the first minute of your first day and fire you because they don't like the socks you're wearing.

The employer would need cause to drug test for most jobs. https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=357-37-200

It is definitely not meaningless. Even if some companies try and get around the rules like you are suggesting, it would be a whole lot more hassle for companies to come up with some reasoning to send one of their newly hired employees to go and get a drug test on their first day. Then, once again, come up with some bs reasoning to fire them without cause. That sounds like a recipe for a lawsuit to me.

I'm not saying it will never happen, but I definitely do not see it being as prevalent as pre-employment drug screening is currently.

The fact that it is a felony to grow recreational cannabis in a state that allows the purchase of recreational cannabis is baffling.

definitely take advantage of the outdoor recreational opportunities if you move here! there's so much cool stuff and nature is very healing. we have seven different biomes in our state, plus two that aren't found anywhere else in the world!!

Hope this is signed into law! One of the many reasons I love Washington.

Now if we could get a few better restaurants in our largely rural county…

Now do home grows!!!

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