Louisiana bill could protect state employees who use medical marijuana

Louisiana state employees who use medical marijuana could soon gain new employment protections under a bill that recently cleared the House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.

Committee members voted unanimously on Thursday to approve House Bill 988, sponsored by Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, to protect state employees who legally use medical marijuana on the advice of their doctor.

HB 988 states: “No state employer shall subject an employee or prospective employee to negative employment consequences based solely on a positive drug test for marijuana, marijuana components, including tetrahydrocannabinols, or marijuana metabolites if the employee or prospective employee has been clinically diagnosed as suffering from a debilitating medical condition and a licensed physician has recommended marijuana for therapeutic use by the employee in accordance with state law.”

“This state has expanded its medical marijuana program several times over the years, is regulating it, is receiving income on it, but we do not yet have any protections for any employees, or really any regulation for any employees in the state who have a (medical marijuana) card,” Landry told the committee.

“This is a very first baby step for the state to adopt a further regime of what to do with people who work in this state who have a medical marijuana card and have trouble with certain jobs and certain career paths.” [Read more at The Center Square]