Washington D.C. Pens Bill To Protect Cannabis Users From Being Fired

A new bill out of Washington D.C. might save you from unemployment.

On Tuesday, Washington D.C.’s city council passed a bill unanimously that would prohibit employers from firing employees who failed a drug test for cannabis.

We’re just waiting for Mayor Muriel Bowser to approve and sign off.

The bill also has a few other laws to protect cannabis users.

Instead of only protecting them after failing a marijuana drug test, it would also prohibit employers from firing an employee because they use cannabis.

The same goes for hiring a new employee; employers cannot discriminate based on the future employee’s cannabis use, whether medicinal or recreational.

If an employer does not follow these rules, employees have up to one year from the incident to file a complaint with D.C.’s Office of Human Rights. This could cost the employer up to $5,000 in fines plus lost wages and legal fees.

The following are exceptions for employers;

• They will not violate the bill if they are “acting under federal guidelines.” This could mean when a federal law outweighs a state law.
• They also won’t violate the bill if their employee has consumed cannabis at work or during work tasks.

In terms of the employee, the following actions surrounding cannabis are prohibited at work;

• Possession
• Storage
• Delivery
• Transfer
• Display
• Transportation
• Sale
• Purchase
• Growing

Perhaps the most important part of the bill is encouraging employers to accept medical marijuana use and not question it. The bill urges employers to look at medical marijuana the same as a prescription medication from a licensed healthcare professional.

Unfortunately, there is a list of jobs that are not eligible for these rules. These jobs are called “safety-sensitive” occupations:

• Police
• Security Guards
• Operators of Heavy Machinery
• Construction Workers
• Health Care Workers
• Gas/Power Employees
• Caretakers
• Federal Government Employees
• Employees in D.C. Courts

Employers have 60 days from when the bill passes to inform their employees

• What the bill means
• What’s allowed
• If their job is a “safety-sensitive” occupation

We’re still waiting to hear if D.C.’s Mayor Muriel Bowser will sign off and approve the bill.

Considering the initial vote was unanimous, we can only expect good things.