More than two decades after California first legalized medical cannabis, dozens of states now have their own medical and recreational cannabis markets. The cannabis industry generates billions of dollars in sales every year, proving that cannabis is one of the most popular drugs in the country even as states have loosened their policies.
However, the federal government still considers cannabis a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning that even though qualifying individuals are allowed to take part in state-legal cannabis markets, their actions remain illegal at the federal level.
As a result, cannabis consumers often find themselves penalized for purchasing and consuming cannabis even though it is legal in their states. For instance, federal employees who are subject to regular drug tests may be penalized for consuming cannabis in accordance with state law.
Reform activists and some lawmakers have long argued against federal prohibition for this and other reasons, stating that federal cannabis policies simply don’t reflect what is happening on the ground.
Last week, the Office of Personnel Management announced that it was proposing to treat past cannabis use more leniently during job applications. The federal agency is proposing to revise job applications such that they only ask applicants if they consumed cannabis within the past 90 days rather than at any point in history. However, applicants for public safety, national security or criminal justice positions would be asked if they have consumed cannabis at any time prior to their application.
The changes will be open to public comment for a two-month period and will result in a more lenient application process for federal employees if they are codified. If the changes receive approval, the draft Vetting Questionnaire would replace the current SF86, SF85, SF 85P-S and SF85P forms.
These forms typically cover positions with varying sensitivity and security levels, and they require applicants to divulge any illicit drug use by checking boxes. Even though cannabis is legal for adult consumption in more than 20 states and medical use in more than 30 states, it is still illicit at the federal level.
With the proposed changes in place, applicants will be provided with a much narrower timeline for past cannabis use. Furthermore, they will not be required to disclose the use of cannabis products with less than 0.3% THC, which is the main psychoactive agent in marijuana.
Answering yes to whether they used cannabis within the past 90 days would prompt additional questions, especially for individuals who were previously employed in a public safety, criminal justice or national security position.
As the restrictions surrounding marijuana gradually ease, entities such as REZYFi Inc., which are focused on funding cannabis companies, are likely to serve a wider market as more players enter the space and find traditional funding sources inadequate for their needs.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to REZYFi Inc. are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/REZY
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