In the News: Keya Denner Featured in HR.com Q&A on Workplace Substance Use Policies
The August 2025 issue of HR.com’s Legal & Compliance Excellence featured Constangy partner Keya Denner in a Q&A exploring challenges for HR departments navigating safety concerns and varying state laws related to cannabis laws.
When asked about top compliance blind spots for employers, Denner said, “Years ago—when these laws were relatively new—the most common mistake by employers was simply ignorance of laws providing employee protections for cannabis use. Now, I’m seeing more employers, especially multi-state employers, fall into the trap of using a ‘one size fits all’ approach.”
He also provided practical steps for organizations to update their drug testing policies to reflect both today’s legal landscape and the cultural realities related to marijuana use:
- First, look into company culture—or what you would like their culture to be.
- Next, look at an organization’s existing policies and compare them against the company’s aspirational goals to determine what needs to change. Also, consider any current roadblocks or particular problems the organization is facing.
- Once the company culture is identified and the company’s goals are understood, the company should work hand-in-hand with legal counsel to ensure that the laws are consulted in each state in which the company is operating.
- Finally, any rollout of new policies should be accompanied by appropriate communication pieces and/or training for frontline managers.
For the full Q&A, please click here.
