Workplace Protections For DC Medical Marijuana Patients Extended Under Emergency Bill

With a Washington, D.C. law protecting local government employees against workplace discrimination due to their use of medical marijuana set to expire next month, lawmakers passed emergency legislation on Tuesday that temporarily extends the policy.

Councilmember David Grosso (D) introduced a resolution that triggers the emergency bill extending the workplace policy for 90 days after the mayor signs it. He also filed temporary legislation that would further extend it by 230 days but, unlike an emergency bill, that would have to go through the more time-consuming committee process.

Both the resolution and an accompanying emergency measure were unanimously approved by the District Council.

The resolution notes the the current medical marijuana workplace protections approved last year are set to expire on June 5 and “no permanent legislation is in place because the work on the permanent legislation was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic response.”