More U.S. workers are testing positive for marijuana, according to Quest Diagnostics, which ran about eight million workplace drug tests in 2025. Permit‑related testing found 4.4% of urine samples positive, up from 3.9% in 2021.

Hair testing, which can detect use up to 90 days earlier, shows a sharper jump: 15% of workers tested positive, a rise near 60% from 2021. Randomized screenings were even higher, with 21% of workers Approach employers’ stance has shifted in most non‑safety‑sensitive fields. They now treat marijuana like alcohol—unproblematic so long as use does not occur on the clock.

Safety‑sensitive sectors such as trucking and construction remain wary. The trend forces companies to rethink pre‑hire screens, balancing talent acquisition against regulatory compliance and potential liability.

Investors confront a dilemma: expanding cannabis markets broaden talent pools but may boost compliance costs, affecting profit1 margins and labor‑cost dynamics in the U.S. economy.