A new bill filed in the Florida House of Representatives seeks to protect government employees and job applicants who legally use medical marijuana.
House Bill 83, introduced by Rep. Mitch Rosenwald, D-Oakland Park, would prohibit government agencies from taking adverse actions against employees or job applicants solely based on their use of medical marijuana. This includes actions such as refusing to hire, firing, or demoting individuals.
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The bill does allow for exceptions in certain circumstances. Government agencies could still take action against employees whose job performance is impaired by medical marijuana use. Additionally, law enforcement agencies would be allowed to implement policies restricting marijuana use by their officers.
This proposal comes after Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2016 broadly legalizing medical marijuana use in the state. However, conflicts remain between state law and workplace policies, particularly in the public sector.
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Rep. Rosenwald’s bill aims to clarify the rights of government employees and ensure they are not discriminated against for using a legal medication. It seeks to balance the needs of employers to maintain a safe and productive workplace with the rights of individuals to use medical marijuana for qualifying conditions.
The bill will be considered during the upcoming legislative session, which begins on March 4th. If passed, it could have significant implications for government employees across the state who rely on medical marijuana.
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