Michigan weighs removing pre-employment drug test for marijuana

UPDATE July 17, 2023 – Read Here

 Jobs with the state of Michigan may no longer require passing drug tests for marijuana to gain employment.

The legalization of recreational pot along with hundreds of applicants testing positive for marijuana prior to being offered employment have both fed into a proposal to remove the requirement.

Other drug tests for marijuana would still be required if there was reasonable suspicion or after a workplace accident, under the proposed change.

In a letter sent May 12 from the state personnel director to human resources officers, the Civil Service Commission asks any comments about the potential change be sent to its general counsel for review.

Marijuana became legal to ingest for adults following a 2018 ballot proposal.

“In light of these changes, commissioners have requested circulation for public comment of potential regulation amendments to end the preemployment-testing requirement for marijuana for classified employees hired into nontest-designated positions,” read the letter.

Since adult-use recreational marijuana was legalized, approximately 350 applicants for positions with the state have tested positive for pot. Under the rule, those that test positive are also barred from applying to a state position for three years. 

A proposed change would offer those individuals amnesty from the three-year rule. 

https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/michigan-weighs-removing-pre-employment-drug-test-for-marijuana