Oakland is considering becoming the first city in the state to enact legislation which would severely limit marijuana testing for current and prospective city employees.
Vice-mayor Rebecca Kaplan on Tuesday at a public safety committee meeting introduced the ordinance which would largely prohibit testing for traces of cannabis for current and prospective city employees. Workers could still be tested if required by the federal government or if they’re suspect to be using drugs on the job.
The four members of the public safety committee voted unanimously to send the draft ordinance to the city administration for review and to confer with labor unions. Once approved there, it would go the full city council for a vote.
Kaplan told the San Francisco Chronicle she hoped relaxed testing would help city staffing shortages and address unfair practices against prospective employees.
However, city spokesperson Karen Boyd refuted that idea, telling the paper that drug testing requirements haven’t contributed to vacancies and that the city has not fired any employees for marijuana use on the job. She did not say whether prospective employees have been impacted or had their offers rescinded for a positive drug test.
Californians voted to legalize recreational marijuana use in 2016. Kaplan told Oaklandside that city shouldn’t be "weeding out workers for something that is legal."
The paper also reported that the majority of city council members have indicated that they support the proposed ordinance.
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