a law aimed at protecting workers from marijuanarelated employment penalties went into effect in washington dc on thursday signed by dc mayor muriel bowser a year ago the legislation successfully completed the congressional review period without facing opposition from federal lawmakers per marijuana moment the aim of this reform is to build on previous measures that protect local government employees from workplace discrimination related to their medical cannabis use   the legislation will “prohibit employers from firing failing to hire or taking other personnel actions against an individual for use of cannabis participating in the medical cannabis program or failure to pass an employerrequired or requested cannabis drug test unless the position is designated safetysensitive or for other enumerated reasons   it explicitly states that employers are prohibited from taking actions such as firing refusing to hire or penalizing individuals for their cannabis use participation in the medical cannabis program or failing an employerrequired cannabis drug test however exceptions are made for certain occupations including police safetysensitive construction workers commercial drivers and positions involving childcare patients and responsibilities that significantly impact employee or public safety furthermore employers are required to inform their employees about the policy change and penalties are outlined for employers who violate the laws provisions additionally the law recognizes the rapidly changing landscape surrounding cannabis and the lack of evidence supporting drug testing laws see also win for worker  employers wa house approves bill banning preemployment testing for weed washington dc is not the first state to undertake reform to protect against workplace discrimination over marijuana use last year california gov gavin newsom signed into law a similar measure prohibiting discrimination in hiring and firing over offduty weed use in february new mexicos lawmakers advanced a measure to allow firefighters to use medical cannabis offduty and new jerseys police officers will no longer be tested for offduty cannabis consumption read more here at marijuana moment want to learn more about cannabis testing and employment as well as other thorny issues that legal weed states are dealing with join us at the benzinga cannabis capital conference in chicago this sept 2728 for its 17th edition get your tickets today before prices go up and secure a spot at the epicenter of cannabis investment and branding  read next michigan abandons preemployment cannabis testing for some state jobs