Port Huron issues new policy on marijuana use for city employees
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The town of Port Huron will now not take into account marijuana use a disqualification for job candidates — nor, a coverage violation for many staff when off the clock — beneath an administrative order issued this week.
For the reason that state legalization of leisure marijuana use in 2018, Metropolis Supervisor James Freed stated his administration has not usually enforced any requirements concerning the situation, citing a apply of being “dedicated to not intruding into the non-public lives” of workers in a discover to staff on Monday.
Nevertheless, Freed later admitted they’ve “by no means taken a proper place on it,” both.
“We additionally acknowledged that the voters have spoken, I believe, two or three totally different instances on the poll field right here on the difficulty,” he stated in an interview. “… The legal guidelines have modified. The voters of this state and this metropolis have spoken, and we have to replace our insurance policies accordingly.”
The official was referencing each the 2008 and 2018 medical and leisure marijuana state poll votes, in addition to voters’ broad help in a 2014 municipal vote to decriminalize pot possession.
Within the discover, which was additionally despatched to the mayor and Metropolis Council, Freed wrote the order didn’t apply to metropolis cops and people required to keep up a industrial driver’s license as a part of their job.
He additionally stated that marijuana use, distribution, or possession was nonetheless towards coverage for any worker whereas on responsibility.
“In different phrases, we plan to deal with marijuana the identical as alcohol,” he wrote. “Simply as you shouldn’t drink alcohol previous to coming to work, you shouldn’t use marijuana previous to coming to work.”
Underneath the order, an worker could also be topic to self-discipline if a supervisor suspects they’re beneath the affect whereas on the clock — be it as a result of irregular or erratic conduct, direct commentary of use, bodily signs akin to blood-shot eyes and poor reflexes, or different info.
These staff could be topic to drug testing, and those that take a look at optimistic or refuse testing would face different disciplinary motion.
Freed didn’t level to different causes that supported extending the newly formalized commonplace to job candidates. However when requested if he thought the choice would enhance candidates to metropolis positions, he stated, “I do know it should.”
“We now have vacancies all throughout the board,” he stated, “whether or not these be temp (or) seasonal.”
Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Comply with her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.
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