Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat from Colorado, has signed a law to strengthen marijuana-related protections in the state for professionals working there. This codifies an executive order that Polis issued last year.
Legislation from Sen. Kevin Van Winkle, which was passed by the legislature last week, prevents regulators from revoking or denying professional certifications, licenses, or registrations based on previous civil or criminal offenses related to cannabis-related activities that have been legalized in the state.
The previous impact of marijuana on a person’s license or certification cannot be used to justify disciplinary actions in the future.
As NewsBreak reported first, the law also prevents regulators from refusing licensing based on past professional disciplinary actions related to cannabis that took place anywhere else in the U.S., so long as they were a violation of activity that is legal in Colorado.
The order builds upon Polis’s Executive Order that he issued last year to protect workers who use marijuana according to state law. This order also prevents state agencies from providing assistance to any investigations conducted outside of the state that may result in penalties for employment.
The Governor said the policy was necessary in order to prevent qualified individuals from leaving the state to seek work and to deal with the workforce shortage.
The new Law prohibits regulators to deny a professional license because of past disciplinary actions that took place anywhere in the U.S. as long as those conducts are legal in Colorado.
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In the wake of cannabis legalization, many states have taken steps to protect workers.
California legislators, for example, approved this week a measure that prohibits employers from requesting information about previous marijuana use.
Michigan officials recently proposed to end pre-employment marijuana drug testing in most government jobs, and also give people who have already been punished for positive THC test results an opportunity to get the sanction retroactively lifted.
The governor of Washington State has signed into law a bill that protects workers against facing discrimination in the hiring process because of their legal use of marijuana.
Washington now joins Nevada in banning discrimination against applicants who test positive for marijuana. New York offers broader protections to adults who use cannabis legally during non-working hours.
Four New Jersey officers are preparing a lawsuit against Jersey City for being terminated for testing positive for marijuana , despite being protected by the state’s cannabis-legalization law and the guidance of the state attorney general.
Polis signed last week a bill in Colorado to create an administrative framework for the legalization of psychedelics, under a voter approved initiative.
Recently, lawmakers in the state sent the governor a bill that would allow online sales of marijuana.
California Senate passes bill to stop employers from asking about past marijuana use
The first time Marijuana moment appeared was when Colorado governor signs bill strengthening marijuana-related protections for working professionals.
