H.R. 10504: Cannabis Users’ Restoration of Eligibility Act

This bill would change federal rules so that

past marijuana use alone

cannot be used to deny someone a security clearance or determine that they are unsuitable for federal employment.

What it changes

• It amends a federal law related to national security screening and suitability for government jobs.
• It says that a person’s past use of marijuana may not be used by itself in deciding whether they can get a security clearance.
• It also says past marijuana use may not be used by itself in deciding whether someone is suitable for federal employment, including under federal suitability rules.

Review of past decisions

• Within one year after the bill becomes law, each federal agency would have to create a process to review certain decisions made on or after January 1, 2008.
• This review would cover cases where someone was denied:
  • a security clearance, or
  • federal employment because of an adverse suitability decision.
• Each agency would have to make its review process available on its public website.
• If a person requests reconsideration, the agency would have to review the decision within 90 days and determine whether the denial was based solely on past marijuana use.

Definition

• The bill uses the federal Controlled Substances Act definition of “marihuana.”

Relevant Companies

None found