In a momentous decision on Wednesday, July 12, Michigan’s Civil Service Commission (CSC) voted unanimously to lift a decades-old ban that had previously prevented state employees who tested positive for marijuana use from obtaining jobs within the state government. This historical move has been a cause for celebration among civil rights advocates and marijuana legalization supporters alike.
According to data provided by the Office of the State Employer (OSE), 151 applicants for state jobs in Michigan tested positive for marijuana use in 2022 alone—a five-year high that doubled the numbers from the previous year. Since the legalization of recreational marijuana use in 2018, the state has recorded 351 pre-employment drug test failures. This year, out of the 83 failed pre-employment drug tests, a staggering 81 were due to marijuana.
This change is not a blanket removal of all drug testing procedures for potential state employees. Certain government roles, including health workers, state police officers, and employees of the Michigan Department of Corrections, will still be required to pass marijuana tests. However, starting from October 1, office staff and applicants for positions that do not involve driving, operating heavy machinery, or handling hazardous materials will no longer be disqualified due to marijuana use.
In addition to the shift in pre-employment screening, the policy revision also does away with the rule that prohibited applicants who previously failed a marijuana drug test from applying for another state job for three years. This is a significant move towards treating marijuana similarly to alcohol for the purposes of employment in the state.
While voting in favor of the changes, Civil Service Commission Nick Ciaramitaro said the change is necessary to comply with the will of voters who passed marijuana legalization.
“Whether or not we agree with it or not is kind of beyond the point,” he said. “Use of marijuana on the job is different than having used it months before you take the test … It doesn’t make sense to limit our ability to hire qualified people because they took a gummy two weeks ago.”
Although the policy change is a significant step, it doesn’t mean that marijuana use is entirely without potential repercussions. Once hired, employees may still be subject to testing if it is believed that they are under the influence of marijuana while on duty.
This reform is a direct response to the progressive legalization of marijuana in Michigan that started with the passage of laws allowing medical use in 2008. Speaking on the matter, Michigan Civil Service Commissioner Jeff Steffel, a former state police trooper, confessed that he’s “not totally on board.” However, Commission Chair Jase Bolger pointed out that the people of Michigan made the decision to “treat marijuana, recreational marijuana, much like alcohol.”
Indeed, it seems that the CSC’s decision echoes the evolving societal attitudes towards marijuana. However, like alcohol, the expectation is that responsibility and moderation should guide its use, especially when it comes to maintaining the standards of professionalism in the workplace.
Michigan residents made the decisions to “treat marijuana, recreational marijuana, much like alcohol,” said Commission Chair Jase Bolger. “Not that anybody should be overindulging on alcohol on Friday night, I’m not suggesting that they should be getting high on Friday night, but to treat them the same when they show up to work on Monday morning seems consistent with the current public policy in the state.”
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