SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — As legal marijuana goes mainstream in much of the United States, employers are wondering what they should do about it — including companies in Springfield, which are responding to Missouri voters approving medical marijuana by a wide margin in November.

Large local employers are reviewing their human resources policies in the wake of the new state constitutional amendment. Last month, Mercy Springfield Communities told its employees that they are prohibited from being under the influence of medical marijuana or “any substance at work that could cause impairment,” Springfield Business Journal reported Monday.

Mercy confirmed the policy update Wednesday, but spokeswoman Sonya Kullmann did not respond when the News-Leader asked if Mercy employees are prohibited from all legal marijuana use at all times, or just use that would impair them on the job.

Elsewhere, CoxHealth is studying best practices on the issue, as is Missouri State University.

“It is still too early to know all of the changes that may be required by the passage of Amendment 2,” Cox spokeswoman Kaitlyn McConnell said in a Thursday email.

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