Beginning on October 1, 2012, Connecticut residents will be able to smoke marijuana to alleviate symptoms of a debilitating medical condition without fear of arrest or prosecution by Connecticut authorities, or adverse employment action by employers in the state. The new law, entitled An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana (Public Act No. 12-55), was signed by Governor Malloy on May 31.

Connecticut joins approximately one-third of the states and the District of Columbia in legalizing medical marijuana use and possession by certain individuals. However, the Connecticut law goes further than most similar laws because it forbids employers from refusing to hire, discharging, penalizing, or threatening individuals based on their medical marijuana use.

To learn more about the law and its potential implications for employers, please continue reading Littler's ASAP, Connecticut Legalizes Medical Marijuana Use, Places Limits on Employers, by Katherine Goetzl.