[Northern Mariana Islands] New bill removes cannabis from pre-employment test

In early November, Jude U Hofschneider - Vice President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate - pre-filed a bill to remove marijuana or THC from all pre-employment and random tests conducted by government employers and the Office of Personnel Management (with certain exceptions). 

Citing Public Law 20-66, or the “Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018,” which authorised personal, medicinal, and commercial use of cannabis in the CNMI, Senate Bill 21-74 states that the law did not change or amend the CNMI government’s drug-testing policies. 

In addition, the law does not address whether government employers may prohibit employees or applicants from engaging in off-duty legalised marijuana use. The bill does, however, find similarities between laws intended to regulate the use of marijuana and the use of alcohol. “This should include the use of alcohol and marijuana at the workplace,” it reads. Marianas Variety takes a closer look at the bill’s contents.

In early November, Jude U Hofschneider - Vice President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate - pre-filed a bill to remove marijuana or THC from all pre-employment and random tests conducted by government employers and the Office of Personnel Management (with certain exceptions). 

Citing Public Law 20-66, or the “Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018,” which authorised personal, medicinal, and commercial use of cannabis in the CNMI, Senate Bill 21-74 states that the law did not change or amend the CNMI government’s drug-testing policies. 

In addition, the law does not address whether government employers may prohibit employees or applicants from engaging in off-duty legalised marijuana use. The bill does, however, find similarities between laws intended to regulate the use of marijuana and the use of alcohol. “This should include the use of alcohol and marijuana at the workplace,” it reads. Marianas Variety takes a closer look at the bill’s contents.