CLEVELAND — The City of Cleveland is making changes to it's drug and alcohol testing policy, according to a press release from a city spokesperson, centered on eliminating "antiquated language around pre-employment marijuana testing that has previously hindered hiring efforts."

What You Need To Know

  • The City of Cleveland is making changes to it's drug and alcohol testing policy centered on eliminating "antiquated language around pre-employment marijuana testing that has previously hindered hiring efforts"

  • Only certain positions will now see this pre-employment testing

  • Ohioans recently voted for a ballot initiative known as Issue 2, which legalized recreational marijuana and officially went into effect Thursday

  • However, the city will still follow rules and regulations when it comes to the Drug-Free Workplace Act

Only certain positions will now see this pre-employment testing, according to the release. Ohioans recently voted for a ballot initiative known as Issue 2, which legalized recreational marijuana and officially went into effect Thursday. The release noted more than 75% of Clevelanders voted for this to pass.

“The criminalization of marijuana in our state and the punitive effects it has had on education, housing, and employment opportunities have lasted far too long, but will eventually be a thing of the past – thanks to Ohioans who made their voices heard loud and clear last month when they voted to approve Issue 2,” Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said in the release.  “We are proud to continue leading the way by rolling out these updates, which builds on our prior marijuana reform efforts and other initiatives aimed at improving our HR policies.”

The positions continuing with pre-employment testing, according to the release, include:

  • Police
  • Fire
  • EMS
  • Department of Port Control
  • Positions requiring a CDL
  • Positions operating heavy equipment or mechanical tools

“We are constantly evaluating our policies to ensure they align with the needs and desires of both our current and prospective employees," Director of Human Resources Matt Cole said in the release. "Pre-employment screening can often times create obstacles in filling open positions by preventing otherwise qualified candidates from even applying. These policy updates are more cost-effective and will ultimately help us widen the applicant pool for several city positions.”

The release states that Baltimore, Washington, Nevada and Montana have enacted comparable policies and that "studies have shown that workplace performance is not related to after-work marijuana use."

However, the city will still follow rules and regulations when it comes to the Drug-Free Workplace Act, the release notes. It states that employees are "prohibited from purchasing, selling, possessing, using, distributing, and selling illegal drugs and alcohol" while at work and cannot be impaired while on the job. Violations will still result in discipline, the release notes.

“Maintaining a drug-free workplace is needed for obvious reasons, but it’s also important for us to be cognizant of the fact that the state is still finalizing regulation, taxation, and licensing terms and processes,” Law Director Mark Griffin said in the release. “We will be keeping a keen eye on how things get sorted out in the legislature and court system, and will adapt procedures and update policy as necessary as the situation evolves in Columbus.”

Related Stories