House Democrats call on Biden to ease policies on White House staffers' marijuana use

BY MELISSA QUINN
MARCH 25, 2021 / 11:43 AM / CBS NEWS

Washington — A group of House Democrats are urging President Biden to relax the White House's employment policies regarding marijuana use in the wake of a report that several White House staffers were disciplined after disclosing past cannabis use.

In a letter to Mr. Biden dated Thursday, 30 Democratic lawmakers asked the president to clarify his employment suitability policies, remove past marijuana use as a possible disqualifier and apply the personnel policies "with consistency and fairness."

"While we work to deschedule cannabis legislatively, your administration should act within its power to stop legitimizing unfair cannabis laws," the lawmakers told Mr. Biden in their letter. "You have previously expressed your commitment to decriminalizing cannabis in acknowledgement that a cannabis conviction or even the stigma of cannabis use can ruin lives and prevent people from voting, gaining employment, and contributing to society. You can meet this moment and help end our failed punitive policy of cannabis prohibition."

Democrats Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, Don Beyer of Virginia, Jared Huffman of California, Mondaire Jones of New York and Barbara Lee of California spearheaded the letter.

The request from the congressional Democrats comes after The Daily Beast reported that "dozens" of White House staffers have been suspended, asked to resign or placed in a remote work program after revealing their past cannabis use, even if their activity occurred in states that have legalized recreational marijuana.

-snip-