DC Council approves measure to protect employees who consume marijuana

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Employees cannot be fired if they test positive for marijuana

The DC Council did not hesitate to approve legislation two days ago to prevent private companies from firing employees just for using marijuana. Although Washington, DC, is one of the states where cannabis has been legalized both medically and recreationally for more than eight years, labor laws still require drug testing. In the event of a positive test result, companies have the power to take action against workers. The recently passed measure goes a long way toward changing that picture.

According to the language of the legislation, employers will no longer have the authority to fire or refuse to hire someone simply based on their cannabis use. It should be made clear that there is an exception for those whose jobs are “safety-sensitive,” including construction workers, heavy equipment operators, police officers and security guards.

Referring to a report by the American Addiction Centers, the Council is clear that government jobs are more likely to test for cannabis use, meaning that the law would not have a significant effect on the businesses it targets. During the meeting held two days ago, members said that different studies have shown that more than 60% of African-American workers had jobs that required drug testing, compared to 46% of white workers. Since marijuana legalization became a trend, several states have passed laws providing similar protections for workers, including New Jersey and Nevada.

Many workers in The Evergreen State are pleased with the new legislation, hoping it can become a reality. All that is needed now is the signature of Mayor Muriel Bowser for the measure to succeed.