Despite being one of the most common substances found in drug screenings, reporting from The Wall Street Journal noted a decline in the number of employers that continue to screen for cannabis use. According to data from Quest Diagnostics, there have been substantial increases in testing positive for cannabis in both urine and hair samples. 

Quest Diagnostics began analyzing workforce drug testing data in the late 1980s and continually publishes its findings in a Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index (DTI). In 2025, the company analyzed over 8 million urine test results, which revealed that the two most common substances found during screenings were marijuana and amphetamines. However, marijuana use was notably higher, with 4.5% of individuals testing positive, compared to the 1.7% who tested positive for amphetamines. In hair samples, the results were similar. The positivity rate for marijuana was 9.8%, followed by a 2.8% rate for cocaine. 

Undoubtedly, the increase in cannabis legalization throughout the United States has influenced the number of people who use marijuana. Along with declining social stigmas about cannabis use overall, it is not surprising that workplace protocol has followed suit. Data from Quest Diagnostics notes a similar trend. “Marijuana positivity increased 11.8% (5.1% in 2021 versus 5.7% in 2022) in states in which recreational marijuana is legal and 8.3% (3.6% in 2021 versus 3.9% in 2022) in states in which medical marijuana is legal. In states in which neither recreational nor medical marijuana is legal, marijuana positivity increased 3.3% (3.0% in 2021 versus 3.1% in 2022) year over year and 14.8% over five years (2.7% in 2018 versus 3.1% in 2022),” the report states. 

Screening for cannabis in the workplace also varies from state to state. Some states, including Arizona, require employers to follow federal drug testing laws, which includes screening for cannabis. Other states such as Washington and California, limit the ways in which cannabis is screened for. In Washington, cannabis is generally exempt from pre-employment screening. In California, tests must screen for active THC, and employers cannot punish employees or applicants for off-the-clock cannabis use. 

The recent federal reclassification of marijuana will likely not impact drug testing laws, as employers can maintain their right to a drug-free workplace. Overall, the decline in employer cannabis screening, as noted by the WSJ, suggests that perceptions of marijuana in the workplace are changing.