New bill would change federal hiring practices on past cannabis use

A new bill would make sure prospective federal employees aren't disqualified solely for past cannabis use.

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., introduced the Dismantling Outdated Obstacles and Barriers to Individual Employment (DOOBIE) Act to ensure applicants for federal positions or security clearances are not denied solely on the basis of past recreational and medical marijuana use.

"As we work to build a highly skilled federal workforce, it's crucial that the federal government modernizes its hiring practices to reflect evolving laws and societal norms,” Peters said in a statement. "My bill will take the commonsense step to align federal statutes with existing agency guidance and ensure that talented individuals are not automatically disqualified from service solely due to past marijuana use."

Under existing law, otherwise qualified candidates could be denied federal employment or security clearances due to past use of marijuana or cannabis products, despite the legalization of such products at the state level.

Twenty-four states and Washington, D.C. have legalized recreational cannabis use. Another 14 states allow medical cannabis use.

At the federal level, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug, along with heroin and LSD. In May, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland submitted a notice of proposed rulemaking to the Federal Register, kicking off a formal rulemaking process to consider moving marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act.

"By providing this much-needed clarity for agencies and applicants, we will ensure that the federal government can recruit and retain the best and brightest to serve our nation," Peters said.

The bill had not picked up any cosponsors as of Friday.