Legislation packaged in a campy acronym may raise skepticism, but there is good reason to make an exception for Sen. Gary Peters’ (D–Mich.) recent bill. Introduced as the Dismantling Outdated Obstacles and Barriers to Individual Employment Act of 2024 (DOOBIE Act), this legislation aims to prevent the federal government from disqualifying individuals from employment or security clearance based solely on past marijuana use.
Peters’ proposal aligns with President Joe Biden’s 2021 guidance to the Office of Personnel Management, ensuring that previous cannabis use does not automatically disqualify individuals from federal employment opportunities. With recreational marijuana legal in 24 states and permitted as medicine in 14 others, the bill reflects evolving laws and societal norms.
While federal agencies can still consider past cannabis consumption when evaluating applications, it should not be the sole determining factor for denial. Biden’s recent guidance allows agencies to take into account factors like the recency and frequency of marijuana use.
The DOOBIE Act represents a shift in attitudes towards past drug use, with President Biden issuing pardons for low-level marijuana offenders and former President Trump signing the FIRST STEP Act to reduce prison sentences for drug offenders. Reps. Jamie Raskin (D–Md.) and Nancy Mace (R–S.C.) also introduced a similar bill in the House, known as the Cannabis Users’ Restoration of Eligibility Act (CURE Act).
