Adults in Illinois who use legal cannabis during their free time would be protected from losing their jobs under a bill approved Thursday by the state’s House of Representatives. The measure, which now proceeds to the Senate, would prohibit most employers from firing workers or discriminating against job applicants merely for testing positive for marijuana use, with some exceptions. “If we’re going to legalize the substance, you should talk about individual liberties and what people want to do on their weekends,” the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Bob Morgan (D) told local NBC affiliate WGEM before the vote. “We should allow people to make good choices and not be discriminated against in the workplace because of those choices as long as it’s not affecting the workplace.” In 2019, Illinois became the first state to legalize cannabis and launch a retail system for adults through an act of the legislature rather than a voter initiative. Last year the state saw more than $1 billion in sales of recreational cannabis products.
Ben Adlin, Marijuana Moment, 03/05/2022 10:52:00