Legal Update: Background Checks and Cannabis Testing in the Golden State

Every year, more states and localities enact new fair chance, ban-the-box, and recreational and medicinal cannabis laws to go with the existing patchwork of similar legislation, and 2023 and 2024 saw the most activity in California. Effective October 1, 2023, California employers became subject to enhanced requirements when inquiring about and considering criminal history after the California Civil Rights Division rolled out new Fair Chance Act regulations. What’s more, Los Angeles County passed a stringent Fair Chance Ordinance applicable to unincorporated areas of the county. And finally, effective January 1, 2024, California cannabis users became entitled to employment protections that have a significant impact on employer-mandated drug testing and consideration of cannabis. California employers continue to wonder how their current hiring and drug testing practices might be affected. We believe these resources will be invaluable in optimizing your hiring practices. In this webinar, Pamela Devata and Jennifer Mora from Seyfarth Shaw will guide employers on these new and complicated regulations and laws.