Recreational-use cannabis has been legal in Maine since 2016. However, the market beyond grow-your-own didn't really open up until October 2020.
In just five months, recreational sales have more than doubled. At the same time, Maine is facing a competitive job market.
As a result, some of the state's largest employers announced that they will no longer test job applicants for marijuana.
Bath Iron Works, a General Dynamics subsidiary, is a shipyard that designs, builds and supports some of the most formidable ships in the world.
The company hopes to hire 2,700 people in 2021, and disqualifying a large pool of applicants wouldn't be "prudent." Some positions, including crane operators and those that require security clearance, will still be tested.
Other employers will still screen job seekers, but a positive test won't prevent them from getting the job.
Instead, employers will focus on making sure workers aren't high on the job, which remains difficult, according to the Portland Press Herald.
