This bill prohibits employers from refusing to hire or terminating the employment of a qualified patient of the New Hampshire therapeutic cannabis program solely based on a positive drug test for cannabis. The bill specifies that this protection applies as long as the individual carries a current, valid registry identification card. However, the bill does not apply to employment where drug screening tests are required for safety reasons, and it does not require employers to allow employees to be impaired by cannabis products while at work.

The Department of Labor does not expect this bill to have a significant impact on operational costs or state, county, or local expenditures. However, there is a possibility of additional revenue from fines levied against employers who violate the provisions of the bill. The amount of potential revenue is indeterminable. The bill may also have an impact on the judicial system, but the fiscal impact of any potential charges or appeals is also indeterminable. The bill has been reviewed by the Judicial Branch, Departments of Justice and Labor, and the New Hampshire Association of Counties.