Recreational marijuana’s strong victory in red-state Ohio last week means legalized cannabis will soon be available to more than half the U.S. population. But current and potential federal employees and contractors are not allowed to indulge, no matter where they live.
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Despite the steady legalization among states since 2012 and a Gallup poll released this month showing approval from a record 70 percent of Americans, marijuana possession remains a federal crime and a major impediment to federal employment. There is hope, however, for those who use cannabis for medical reasons or just to get high.
The outside-the-Beltway developments have drawn increased attention to little-noticed, bipartisan congressional legislation approved with a 30-14 vote in September by the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The Cannabis Users Restoration of Eligibility (CURE) Act would prohibit federal employers from using prior — but not current — marijuana consumption as grounds for blocking federal employment or security clearances. Democrats were unanimous in their support, while Republicans split, with 14 voting no and 10 voting yes.
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