Bill Known As DOOBIE Act Would Prevent Marijuana Use From Being A Barrier To Federal Employment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bill has been introduced in Congress aimed at preventing past marijuana use from being a barrier for those applying for federal employment, according to a report by Forbes.

Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) recently introduced the Dismantling Outdated Obstacles and Barriers to Individual Employment Act, also known as the DOOBIE Act.

Under the measure, federal agencies and the Office of Personnel Management would be restricted from considering past marijuana use when it comes to making decisions on whether an applicant is suitable for employment and security clearances.  Current laws would be revised to ensure that marijuana use does not disqualify individuals from obtaining security clearances or personal identity verification credentials.

Though marijuana is now legal for recreational use in 24 states and permitted for medical reasons in 14 other states, possession and consumption remain federal crimes.

“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. “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. 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.”

If passed, the measure would add to the ongoing reform of federal marijuana policies.  The Drug Enforcement Administration recently recommended categorizing marijuana as a Schedule III drug instead of its current Schedule 1 classification, which subjects it to the same strict restrictions as narcotics such as heroin, methamphetamines and LSD.

The DOOBIE act comes on the heels of bipartisan bill introduced in the House last year that would eliminate a history of marijuana use as a disqualifying factor for federal job applicants.

A hearing on Sen. Peters’ bill is set for July 24 before the committee he chairs, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

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