New Mexico Alcohol & Drugs: What you need to know

Some states have comprehensive laws that regulate or prohibit drug testing in private sector workplaces, but New Mexico does not have such a law. New Mexico employers are therefore free to implement all types of drug-testing programs at their own discretion. See the national ALCOHOL & DRUGS analysis for more information on developing a program.

The New Mexico Human Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination based on an employee's physical or mental handicap, defined as a "physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of an individual's major life activities, having a record of such impairment, or being perceived as having such an impairment" (NM Stat. Sec. 28-1-1 et seq.). While the state law does not state whether alcohol or drug use falls into that category, current use of illegal drugs is not a protected disability under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Alcoholism is considered a disability, but federal law provides that an employer may hold an alcoholic employee to the same qualifications and job performance standards as other employees, even if unsatisfactory performance is caused by the alcoholism. See the national ADA section for more information.

The Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act allows the use of marijuana to treat specific medical conditions, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, and cancer (NM Stat. Sec. 26-2B-1 et seq.). Qualified patients receive medical certification and have a registry identification card after registering with the state. The law does not protect a patient from criminal prosecution or civil penalty for ...