Senator Introduces Bill to Update Federal Employment Policies on Marijuana Use
- Under the new law, past marijuana use cannot be the reason to deny a job or security clearance.
- The legislation aims to protect job seekers from discrimination based on their previous marijuana usage.
- Job applicants now have legal protection against unfair treatment due to past cannabis consumption.
Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.) has introduced a new bill aimed at preventing the federal government from disqualifying individuals from employment or security clearances based solely on their past marijuana use. This legislation seeks to align federal law with President Joe Biden's 2021 guidance, which instructed the Office of Personnel Management to overlook previous cannabis consumption when evaluating job applications. Currently, marijuana is legal for recreational use in 24 states and for medicinal purposes in an additional 14 states. The proposed bill comes in the wake of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) recent suggestion to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I substance, which includes drugs like heroin and meth, to a Schedule III classification. Peters argues that this change is essential for federal agencies to effectively recruit and retain qualified personnel, thereby enhancing national service capabilities. However, it is important to note that the legislation only addresses past marijuana use and does not extend to individuals who currently consume the drug, which remains illegal under federal law. In addition to Peters' efforts, President Biden has taken steps to address marijuana-related offenses, including a blanket pardon for low-level offenders issued in 2022. Furthermore, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) introduced a similar bill in the House last July, known as the Cannabis Users' Restoration of Eligibility Act (CURE Act), indicating a growing legislative trend towards reforming cannabis policies at the federal level.