The Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Arnold Palacios, has signed into law legislation eliminating pre-employment marijuana screening for most government positions.
(Photo credit: Emily Koonce)
Public Law 23-2 exempts safety-sensitive roles and those under federal drug testing regulations from this change.
This move comes after the US territory, with a population of around 56,000, legalized the sale and use of cannabis in 2018. The CNMI joins a growing list of states and cities, including Michigan, Nevada, Washington, and major municipalities like Atlanta, Philadelphia, and St. Louis, that have also ended pre-employment marijuana screening for most public employees.
“Government employers do not prohibit employees or applicants from engaging in off-duty legalized alcohol use. Such employers should do the same with marijuana use”, states the text of the bill.
Additionally, states such as California, New York, and Rhode Island have introduced broader protections, restricting employers from testing or punishing employees for cannabis use outside of work.
