The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee passed the Dismantling Outdated Obstacles and Barriers to Individual Employment (DOOBIE) Act this week, in a 9-5 vote. The bill, introduced by Michigan Sen. Gary Peters (D), aims to prevent applicants for federal positions or security clearances from being denied solely due to past cannabis use.
If passed by the Senate, the DOOBIE Act would align federal hiring practices with the growing number of states that have enacted medical or adult-use cannabis reforms. Currently, adult-use cannabis is legal in 24 states and Washington, D.C., while 14 states have passed at least limited medical cannabis reforms.
Additionally, the bill would solidify current federal guidelines on past cannabis use from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as official policy.
“The federal government must adapt its hiring practices to reflect the evolving legal and social landscape of our nation,” said Sen. Peters. “This approach will expand our talent pool and create a fairer, more inclusive hiring process.”
This vote signals an ongoing shift in federal cannabis policies, following President Biden’s announcement in May that his administration will work to reschedule cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, with a DEA hearing scheduled for December 2 to review expert opinions.
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