September 28, 2023

On September 27, a congressional committee will vote on a bill concerning covered applicants’ past or present use of marijuana. It would prevent employers from considering marijuana use in the hiring decision. It also stops employers from denying security clearance to cannabis users under the existing code. 

This bill is the Cannabis Users’ Restoration of Eligibility (CURE). If passed, it could significantly increase job opportunities if you use or have used marijuana. It would also grant relief to people who previously lost job opportunities because they used marijuana. Furthermore, it would require every federal agency to create a process that reviews cases from January 1, 2008. However, these cases must involve marijuana preventing a person from acquiring security clearance or work. 

The CURE bill would also have a website for you to request a review of prior denials. These requests must involve decisions that denied a security clearance or job due to marijuana use. After filing an eligible case, the agency that denied you for marijuana use must reconsider the decision.

You will have 30 days to appeal a decision if the agency reconsiders your case and still denies you the job or security clearance. You may file the appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). The MSPB must have the decision reviewed within 120 days. Should the MSPB determine the denial still accounted for marijuana use, it will instruct the involved federal agency to reassess your request.

There have been other attempts to pass legislation similar to the CURE bill. Though unsuccessful, some federal agencies have already changed their policies concerning marijuana. These agencies include the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). 

As such, you could find increased opportunities at these agencies. If the CURE Act does not pass, the Drug Enforcement Administration is considering rescheduling marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. Rescheduling marijuana could cause more federal agencies to change their employment policies.

If the CURE Act passes, it would increase job opportunities for many people. However, several federal agencies have already changed their policies concerning marijuana, and more agencies could decide to do so. As such, using marijuana should not prevent you from applying for work with federal agencies or obtaining security clearances.

Regardless, you should consider conducting a self-background check before applying. A self-check would allow you to correct any errors in your report. It also allows you to determine how best to explain any possible negative information.

Discover more about our reliable and secure self-background checks by clicking here. Get started today.

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