Washington DC Council Passes Bill on Cannabis Use and Employment
If the bill is signed by the mayor, employers would not be able to fire workers for cannabis use.
- By Alex Saurman
- Jun 10, 2022
Cannabis use may no longer be a legal reason to fire workers in Washington D.C.
On Tuesday, June 7, the council of the District of Columbia passed a bill that would prohibit employers from firing or not hiring workers for cannabis use or a failed drug test, with some employers exempt. The bill, “Cannabis Employment Protections Amendment Act of 2022,” passed by a 13-0 vote. It now goes to the mayor for signing.
If signed, the bill would “prohibit employers from firing, failing to hire, or taking other personnel actions against an individual for use of cannabis, participating in the District’s or another state’s medical cannabis program, or failure to pass an employer-required or requested cannabis drug test, unless the position is designated safety sensitive or for other enumerated reasons.”
The bill would still allow employers to adopt drug-free workplace policies that include testing requirements for accidents or reasonable suspicion and prohibiting the use of cannabis at work and being impaired at work.
If the bill is passed, employers who are found in violation may be subject to fines, fees and training.