UPDATE 8/30: AB 2188 has passed through the Senate (in a 27-11 vote, a 2/3 majority) and also passed a concurrence vote in the Assembly. The bill is now on its way to the desk of the Governor, who will have until September 30 to sign it into law. Write a Letter in Support of AB 2188.
Updates on other bills below.
Votes in Legislature Set for August on AB 2188, Other Reform Bills
California has a chance to catch up with other states that protect employment rights for off-the-job cannabis consumers this year, with a California NORML–sponsored bill AB 2188 (Quirk).
The bill would disallow job discrimination based on urine or hair tests that detect only inactive metabolites of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and thus are able to pick up use days or weeks before a test. It would still allow the use of oral swab or computer-based performance tests that are a better indicator of recent use, or impairment.
AB 2188 would allow an employer to take action against employees who are impaired on the job, and has exemptions for federal workers and those in the construction industry. It is supported by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), California Nurses Association, CA Board of Registered Nursing, and UDW/AFSCME Local 3930. It is also supported by the California Employment Lawyers Association, United Cannabis Business Association, Cannabis Equity Policy Council, Americans for Safe Access, and California Cannabis Industry Association, among others.
The bill has passed through the California Legislature and is heading to the Governor’s desk. Write a Letter to Gov. Newsom in Support of AB 2188.
The California Chamber of Commerce has removed the bill from its “job killer” list after amendments were taken in the Senate, necessitating the bill moving back to the Assembly for a concurrence vote, before heading to the Governor’s desk. All bills must be voted on in the legislature by the end of August.
“Cannabis is legal in California, and workers have a right to engage in legal activity while away from the job. Yet countless workers and job applicants are losing job opportunities or being fired because they test positive for legal, off-the-job use of marijuana on account of indiscriminate urine and hair metabolite tests,” said Cal NORML director Dale Gieringer. “Scientific studies have failed to show that urine testing is effective at preventing workplace accidents. Numerous studies have found that workers who test positive for metabolites have no higher risk of workplace accidents.”
“Ironically, under current drug testing rules, workers may use addictive opiates for medical use, but are forbidden to use medical cannabis, which has been shown to reduce opiate use,” Gieringer continued.
“Twenty-one states currently have laws protecting employment rights for medical cannabis users, and five of those states (Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Montana and Connecticut) plus several cities (New York City, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Baltimore, Kansas City MO, Rochester NY and Richmond VA) protect recreational cannabis consumers’ employment rights,” added Cal NORML Deputy Director Ellen Komp. “California, a global leader in progressive causes, still has no protections for its workers who consume cannabis. It’s high time to change that and protect California’s workers.”
OTHER CANNABIS REFORM BILLS ALSO ADVANCE
Also passing on the floors of their respective houses are:
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- AB 1954 (Quirk), another Cal NORML-sponsored bill, which would protect the right of patients to medical treatment if they use marijuana, and the right of physicians and clinics to treat them. This bill has passed on the Assembly and Senate floors and has been signed into law by Gov. Newsom. Thanks to all who took action on this bill!
- AB 1706 (Bonta), which would expedite expungement of past marijuana convictions in California. It has passed through the Assembly and the Senate and heads to the Governor’s desk. Tell Gov. Newsom to Sign AB 1706.
- SB 1186 (Wiener), to require all local governments to permit access to medicinal cannabis in either a licensed dispensary or via delivery, has passed on the Senate floor in the Assembly Business & Professions and Judiciary committees, where Cal NORML testified in favor of the bill. It has passed in Assembly Appropriations and heads to the Assembly floor. Please Send a Letter to Your Assemblymember in Support of SB 1186.
- AB 2595 (Jones-Sawyer), which would require the State Department of Social Services to treat a parent’s use of cannabis in the same manner as alcohol or legally prescribed medication. It has passed through the Assembly and Senate. Write to Gov. Newsom in Support of AB 2595.
- SB 998 (Hueso) to amend Ryan’s Law requiring health care facilities to allow cannabis use by terminally ill patients. It has passed through the Senate and the Assembly and will head to the Governor’s desk for his signature. Write a Letter in Support of SB 998.
- AB 1885 (Kalra), allowing veterinarians to recommend cannabis products. It has passed through the Assembly and Senate and is heading for the Governor’s desk. You can send a support letter on AB 1885 via https://petcannabis.org/
- AB 2210 (Quirk – temporary cannabis event licenses). Has passed in the Assembly and the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development committee. Passed through Senate Governmental Organization and Appropriations committees; heading for vote on Senate floor.
- AB 1326: Sponsored by Sen. Anna Caballero (D), the bill would set the stage to allow for interstate marijuana commerce from California to and from other legal states, contingent on an official assurance that the activity would not put the state at risk of federal enforcement action. It also heads to the Senate floor.
- A bill Cal NORML opposed (although it was improved with revisions), SB 1097, which would have required costly, badly designed new warnings with cannabis products, has been withdrawn by the author.
