A surprising bipartisan bill that would allow those who use recreational cannabis to secure federal employment is being pushed on Capitol Hill.

(Video Credit: FOX 5 Washington DC)

The Cannabis Users Restoration of Eligibility Act was introduced by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) Their proposed legislation follows over 20 states and Washington, DC legalizing marijuana. Currently, someone applying for a federal job is automatically disqualified if they admit to using cannabis.

Even though many states have deemed cannabis use as legal, thousands of people who use the drug are barred from employment as federal workers over it.

“Every year, qualified and dedicated individuals seeking to serve our country are unable to secure federal jobs and security clearances because the federal government has not caught up with the widely established legal use of medical and recreational cannabis,” Raskin, who is battling cancer, declared via a statement.

“I am proud to partner with my friend Representative Mace to introduce the bipartisan CURE Act that will eliminate the draconian, failed, and obsolete marijuana policies that prevent talented individuals from becoming honorable public servants in their own government,” he proclaimed.

Despite the liberalization of marijuana laws across our country, Americans can still be disqualified from many federal jobs because they have used marijuana. My #CUREAct will get rid of this obsolete policy & help qualified Americans serve our government with integrity and pride.

— Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) July 27, 2023

The CURE Act would mandate that someone’s use of cannabis cannot be used against them to deny the person a security clearance or as a reason to deem them unsuitable for federal employment. The legislation would also allow an individual who has been denied federal employment or a security clearance over the last 15 years due to cannabis use to have that denial reviewed.

Fox News reported:

According to the bill, all federal agencies would be required to create a process within one year of enactment to review each past decision to deny security clearances or job opportunities over cannabis use from as far back as January 1, 2008. These agencies would need to maintain a website, so people could request a review of a decision and the agencies must also reconsider the applicant’s security clearance or employment application within 90 days if they find that the individual was denied solely because of marijuana use.

 

“Look we’ve got 2.8 million federal employees in America. In my state, more than 100,000 people have been disqualified from federal [employment] because they honestly admit on a security clearance that they have once used marijuana,” Raskin ranted in front of Congress, according to Fox 5 DC.

“We strongly support the CURE Act because it will bring federal employment policies into line with the views of most Americans,” Ed Conklin, executive director of the US Cannabis Council, said in a statement released by Raskin’s office. “Cannabis use should never prevent a qualified candidate from serving his or her country as a federal employee.”

“We strongly support the CURE Act because it will bring federal employment policies into line with the views of most Americans. Cannabis use should never prevent a qualified candidate from serving his or her country as a federal employee.”

— US Cannabis Council (@USCannabisCncl) July 27, 2023

“There are many talented and dedicated people who have used cannabis and want to serve their country,” former Sgt. Terry Blevins, who is also a former civilian investigator for the Department of Defense, Arizona Police Sergeant, and Board Member for the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, contended according to a statement. “Compromising recruitment by our federal agencies with antiquated cannabis laws makes our nation less safe in the face of security threats we face globally.”

If the bill passes, it will treat legalized marijuana like alcohol. That means as long as an employee doesn’t use it during work or come to the job high, they can’t be penalized for it.

In 2022, President Biden pardoned people who were convicted at the federal level of simple possession of marijuana. Approximately 6,500 people were impacted by that pardon but none were in prison at the time. Nobody is in federal prison currently solely for simple possession of marijuana. Biden has also vowed to review the Schedule I narcotic classification of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act.

A provision championed by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in the fiscal 2024 Intelligence Authorization Act would prohibit intelligence agencies from denying someone a security clearance based solely on an individual’s use of marijuana prior to submitting their clearance application. That intelligence legislation just passed the Senate as part of the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization bill.

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