The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has approved a bill that will end the pre-employment drug testing of most government positions.
The CNMI House of Representatives approved the Employment Protections Legislation from Rep. Diego Vincent Camacho on Friday, 17-1. This was five years since the U.S. Territory legalized cannabis. It is the first time that the reform has been enacted by a U.S. jurisdiction via an act of legislators rather than a ballot initiative. The bill will now be considered by the Senate during a special meeting.
The measure prohibits government agencies from testing most applicants for THC. However, they can continue to test active employees for marijuana at random or on suspicion.
All jobs that are safety sensitive or involve federal contracts, such as transportation or the use of firearms, would be exempted from any policy changes. The CNMI’s Office of Personnel management (OPM), would be able determine which jobs were considered safety sensitive.
The Legislature wanted to regulate marijuana use in a similar way to alcohol. The bill’s conclusions section states that this approach should include alcohol and marijuana use at work. Government employers don’t prohibit their employees from drinking alcohol legally when they are not on duty. Employers should also do the same for marijuana.
The report also cites examples of localities and states like New York, Washington, D.C., that have taken similar steps to eliminate cannabis pre-employment testing after legalization.
According to Saipan Tribune, Camacho stated that the legislation was intended for initial drug tests. “Anything beyond that is up to the employee or employer.”
It’s already here. He said that he thought people were smart enough to know that there are rules to follow when they accept a job.
Rep. Roman Benavente said that he supports the legislation not only because it is legal, but because “there are health benefits that really help the community behind it.”
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CNMI was the first U.S. Territory to legalize marijuana, but it wasn’t the last.
Guam ended marijuana prohibition one year after CNMI reform. The U.S. has also legalized marijuana this year. Virgin Islands (USVI), enacted cannabis legislation.
In 2021 the federal courts that represent CNMI and Guam will host a seminar about marijuana legalization, and its possible impact on tourism.
As the legalization movement continues to grow, many states have seen changes in their cannabis policies and employment policies.
Michigan officials, for instance, approved changes to the state’s employment policy last month. This means that applicants for government jobs are no longer subjected to pre-employment marijuana drug tests.
Last month, a California Assembly committee approved a Senate passed bill that would prevent employers from asking about previous marijuana use by job applicants.
In May, Washington State Governor passed a law protecting workers against employment discrimination due to their legal use of marijuana during the hiring process.
Arkansas Law protecting medical marijuana patients’ gun rights officially takes effect
Martin Alonso is the photographer of this photo.
The post Congress Votes To End Marijuana Pre-Employment Testing For Government Jobs On U.S. Territory first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
