Latest news with #marijuanalegalization
Forbes
08-08-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Pennsylvania's Cannabis Bill Legalizes Use, Not Workplace Protections
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a sweeping cannabis reform bill that could significantly alter the state's marijuana landscape, but not necessarily in the way many job seekers and employers might expect. Introduced in the 2025 legislative session, House Bill 1735 would legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older, regulate its sale, and impose state taxes on its purchase. The bill creates a comprehensive framework for adult-use cannabis under a newly formed Cannabis Control Board, offering business licenses to growers, processors, retailers, transporters, and testing facilities. The proposed legislation also promises social equity support, automatic expungement of certain past offenses, and dual-use licensing opportunities for existing medical marijuana operators. While these changes would undoubtedly reshape how marijuana is accessed and regulated in Pennsylvania, the bill stops short of transforming the employment landscape, especially when it comes to employee rights and workplace policies. That's where employers and job seekers alike should pay close attention. The Existing Framework: Act 16 and Medical Cannabis Protections Since 2016, Pennsylvania has maintained a medical marijuana program under Act 16, allowing individuals with qualifying medical conditions to use cannabis legally with certification from a physician. That law includes limited employment protections for certified medical users. Specifically, Act 16 prohibits employers from taking adverse action solely because someone is a certified medical cannabis patient. However, it does not require accommodation of use at work, nor does it restrict employer drug testing policies or responses to impairment on the job. Put simply, medical users have a narrow but important set of protections, while employers retain discretion to maintain drug-free workplaces, particularly in safety-sensitive roles or where federal law mandates compliance. HB 1735: Legalization Without Expanded Employment Rights HB 1735 preserves the current employment framework. While the bill would legalize adult-use cannabis for Pennsylvanians 21 and older, it does not create new workplace protections for recreational users. Employers would retain the ability to maintain drug-free policies, conduct pre-employment or random drug testing, and take adverse action based on a positive cannabis result, particularly in safety-sensitive roles or where required by federal law. Recreational users, unlike certified medical marijuana patients, would not be shielded from employment consequences for off-duty use. Under HB 1735: Importantly, HB 1735 reaffirms that lawful cannabis use under state law does not override an employer's authority to regulate its workplace. Local Ordinances Offer Broader Worker Protections Notably, both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have implemented local ordinances that offer stronger protections for medical marijuana users than either Act 16 or HB 1735. In Philadelphia, employers are prohibited from conducting pre-employment marijuana testing as a condition of employment, with limited exceptions for safety-sensitive positions, law enforcement roles, and federally mandated testing programs. Similarly, Pittsburgh's ordinance bars pre-employment drug testing for marijuana for most roles, while carving out exceptions for positions involving public safety, driving, or duties that could pose a significant risk of harm. These local laws signal a growing trend among municipalities to provide greater employment protections for cannabis users, particularly in the absence of broader state-level safeguards. Neither Act 16 nor HB 1735 imposes restrictions on employer drug testing policies, meaning that outside of these cities, Pennsylvania employers retain wide discretion to test for and act on cannabis use. What Job Seekers Should Know For job seekers, particularly those who use cannabis recreationally or medicinally, HB 1735 signals that legalization does not equal workplace immunity. A positive drug test, especially in pre-employment screening or for positions governed by federal rules, can still result in a rescinded job offer or disciplinary action. Certified medical users will still be shielded from discrimination based solely on their patient status, but they can also face adverse action if they show signs of impairment at work or fail a test in violation of company policy. That said, HB 1735's legalization and expungement provisions could offer a fresh start for individuals whose past cannabis convictions have presented barriers to employment. Parting Thoughts House Bill 1735 represents a major policy shift in Pennsylvania's approach to cannabis, but its impact on the workplace is more measured. Employers retain broad authority to regulate cannabis use, set drug testing policies, and manage workplace safety. Medical marijuana users continue to receive limited statutory protections, while recreational users should not expect new rights in the employment context. For employers, this is the time to review and update workplace drug policies to ensure they align with the evolving legal landscape, particularly if your organization operates in multiple jurisdictions with differing cannabis laws. And for job seekers, understanding the distinction between legal use and protected use remains critical. Legalization may open the door for retail cannabis sales, but in the workplace, the rules are still firmly in place.
Fox News
20-07-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Mike Tyson says he's 'tired' of hearing negatives about legal cannabis
Boxing legend Mike Tyson has been at the forefront of cannabis reform in the United States and this weekend he posted about the issue on social media. Tyson, 59, was open earlier this month in an interview with Fox News Digital about how he believed marijuana use kept him out of jail. On Saturday, he posted that drug traffickers and human traffickers will keep winning until marijuana is legalized federally. "Tired of hearing that legal cannabis will cause mass chaos or have people stinking up the streets," he wrote on X. "That's just ridiculous. We've got rules for cigarettes and alcohol, therefore, cannabis would be no different. It's about freedom. Adults should have the choice. "Until it's legal federally, cartels and human traffickers keep winning." Tyson would hope to see the plant reclassified by the government from a category that is defined by high potential for abuse with no accepted medical use to a category of moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. It is one of the three points Tyson advocated in a recent letter to President Donald Trump's White House that he wrote in conjunction with other superstar athletes and entertainers, like Kevin Durant and Allen Iverson. Tyson added he believes the rescheduling of marijuana is the top priority in his federal reform goals. He and his supporters also want to see mass clemency for nonviolent marijuana offenders. Tyson said seeing people going to jail for these offenses was an unfortunate memory of his childhood. "I always knew that. I always knew that I am friends with those people, people come from my community," Tyson told Fox News Digital. He recalled one member of his community he watched go to jail when he was a kid and who wasn't released until Tyson became an established fighter. A recent study by researchers at UC San Francisco determined that eating edible cannabis, such as gummies, has the same cardiovascular risk as smoking marijuana for long-term users. The risk stems from reduced blood vessel function, according to the study, published in JAMA Cardiology May 28. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Mike Tyson makes desperate marijuana plea to Donald Trump
A coalition of sport stars led by Mike Tyson have penned a letter to the White House urging Donald Trump to enact cannabis reform. The group, labelled 'Coalition of Athletes and Entertainers Supporting President Trump's Policy Objectives', includes a number of stars such as NBA icon Kevin Durant. Former NBA star Allen Iverson, Roy Jones Jr., Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown and former NFL player Ricky Williams are also part of the group who formed the letter. There are also a number of entertainment stars - including popular online streamer Adin Ross, rapper Lil Pump and musician Wyclef - who signed the letter. The group make three key points in the letter to President Trump - including clemency for 'nonviolent' offenses, ending 'discriminatory banking practices' and reclassifying the drug. The statement also took aim at former President Joe Biden and his lack of action regarding marijuana-related incarcerations - despite promising to do so. The letter begins: 'Today, people continue to serve lengthy federal sentences for conduct that is now legal in most states – which makes their continued incarceration not only cruel but absurd. 'After making sweeping promises to voters in 2020, former President Biden failed to deliver on his pledge to address marijuana-related injustices. 'Not only did he leave office without commuting the sentences of those incarcerated for marijuana, but in one of his final acts, he denied nearly every pending marijuana-related clemency application. 'This betrayal only underscores the urgent need for bold leadership, we believe, and represents an opportunity to correct glaring disparities as part of your Administration's ongoing push for criminal justice reform.' Moving forward, the letter goes into further detail surrounding the desire to reclassify the drug from a Schedule I substance and change it to Schedule III. The varying schedules impact how drugs are perceived regarding their potential for abuse vs medical application, in the eyes of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Schedule I substances are believed to have a high potential for abuse and are not regarded as accepted for medical use in the US. Meanwhile, Schedule III substances are accepted for medical use in the US and have a low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Meanwhile, former boxer Tyson previously revealed that he is a daily user of the drug The letter read: 'Marijuana's current classification as a Schedule I substance is scientifically outdated, economically detrimental, and at odds with modern medical understanding. 'Rescheduling marijuana would harmonize federal law with state policies, promote innovation, encourage research, and drive economic growth.' The final point in the letter makes reference to an initiative called 'Operation Choke Point' - which Trump has been opposed to - and 'discriminatory bank practices'. The initiative investigated banks and business which they did with firearm dealers and other companies who were said to be at risk of fraud or money laundering. The letter suggested that marijuana companies have, similarly, been affected by the initiative. 'State-legal cannabis operators, including many of us, have also been unjustly denied banking services despite full compliance with state law. 'Despite operating legally in 40 states, employing over 450,000 Americans, and generating more than $35 billion annually, these businesses face unjust barriers to banking services, and their employees struggle to obtain mortgages from traditional lenders. 'Moreover, cannabis businesses cannot take standard business deductions, leading to effective tax rates often exceeding 85 per cent. 'While foreign cannabis companies benefit from listings on U.S. exchanges, such as NYSE and NASDAQ, American cannabis operators are unjustly excluded. 'We fully support your commitment to 'work with Congress to pass common-sense laws, including safe banking,' ensuring fair economic opportunities and equal access to financial services for all American businesses.'
Fox News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Mike Tyson, Kevin Durant, other sports stars urge Trump to enact cannabis reform in White House letter
EXCLUSIVE: A coalition of sports stars and entertainers have sent a letter to the White House urging President Donald Trump to enact cannabis reform. The group is headlined by boxing legend Mike Tyson, NBA superstar Kevin Durant, former NBA star Allen Iverson, former boxer Roy Jones Jr., former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant, former NFL star Antonio Brown, and former NFL player and prominent cannabis advocate Ricky Williams. Williams' name appears twice on the list of signees. The group labels itself the "Coalition of Athletes and Entertainers Supporting President Trump's Policy Objectives." The letter highlights three main points in their proposed reform: Clemency for "nonviolent" marijuana offenses, support for marijuana rescheduling and ending "discriminatory banking practices." The first point in the letter points out Trump's previous pardon of music producer Weldon Angelos, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison in November 2004 for marijuana charges. Angelos was released in 2016 and then pardoned by Trump in December 2020. The letter also criticized former President Joe Biden for a lack of action on addressing marijuana-related incarcerations. "Today, people continue to serve lengthy federal sentences for conduct that is now legal in most states – which makes their continued incarceration not only cruel but absurd. After making sweeping promises to voters in 2020, former President Biden failed to deliver on his pledge to address marijuana-related injustices. Not only did he leave office without commuting the sentences of those incarcerated for marijuana, but in one of his final acts, he denied nearly every pending marijuana-related clemency application," the letter states. "This betrayal only underscores the urgent need for bold leadership, we believe, and represents an opportunity to correct glaring disparities as part of your Administration's ongoing push for criminal justice reform." The second point in the letter urges Trump to reclassify the drug from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule III. The difference in the respective schedules, which are determined by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), determines how drugs are viewed in terms of their potential for abuse vs. medical application. Schedule I substances have a high potential for abuse and have no accepted medical use in the U.S. They also have a high potential for severe psychological and/or physical dependence. Schedule III substances have a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence compared to Schedule I and II drugs, and they have accepted medical use in the United States. "Marijuana's current classification as a Schedule I substance is scientifically outdated, economically detrimental, and at odds with modern medical understanding," the letter states. "Rescheduling marijuana would harmonize federal law with state policies, promote innovation, encourage research, and drive economic growth." The final point in the letter arguing against "discriminatory banking practices" points out that Trump has been opposed to a previous U.S. initiative called "Operation Choke Point," which investigated banks and the business they did with firearms dealers, payday lenders and other companies that, while operating legally, were said to be at a high risk for fraud and money laundering. The group argued marijuana businesses have also been affected by that initiative and other banking practices. "State-legal cannabis operators, including many of us, have also been unjustly denied banking services despite full compliance with state law," the letter read. "Despite operating legally in 40 states, employing over 450,000 Americans, and generating more than $35 billion annually, these businesses face unjust barriers to banking services, and their employees struggle to obtain mortgages from traditional lenders. "Moreover, cannabis businesses cannot take standard business deductions, leading to effective tax rates often exceeding 85%. While foreign cannabis companies benefit from listings on U.S. exchanges, such as NYSE and NASDAQ, American cannabis operators are unjustly excluded. We fully support your commitment to 'work with Congress to pass common-sense laws, including safe banking,' ensuring fair economic opportunities and equal access to financial services for all American businesses." The other figures listed on the letter to the White House include former NBA players Steven Jackson, Chris Webber, JR Smith, John Salley and Al Harrington, former NFL players Jim McMahon, Kyle Turley, Champ Bailey, Marvin Washington and Tony Richardson, and former boxers Boyd Melson, Paul Willias and Keith Thurmon. The entertainment figures on the letter are streamer Adin Ross, rappers Lil Pump and Ralo, and musician Wyclef. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Push to add cannabis cafe measure to Oregon's 2026 ballot progresses
PORTLAND, Ore. () — The push to legalize cannabis cafes in Oregon is forging ahead. The Oregon Cannabis Cafe Coalition has announced it received nearly 1,500 signatures in support of its petition for a measure that could potentially bring Amsterdam-style marijuana consumption lounges to the state. The , which was first submitted in mid-February, needed just 1,000 signatures to advance to the next phase. PDX ranked as America's best airport by Washington Post In an email, coalition founder and chief petitioner Justyce Seith told KOIN 6 she will soon head to Salem to submit the signatures for verification. If the Elections Division determines all of the signatures are valid, the ballot titling process will begin. The proposal would then need to gather another 117,173 signatures in order to be added to the November 2026 ballot, according to . 'WE ARE VERY BLESSED TO BE A DIRECT DEMOCRACY STATE,' Seith . 'We have the opportunity to let the people vote in new measures rather than just the government. Not every state allows this. So let's not waste it!! Let's show them how this benefits the people!!' The coalition co-founder isn't the first to attempt to bring cannabis cafes to the state. In 2016, the Indoor Clean Air Act banned smoking in the workplace and within 10 feet of entrances, exits and accessibility acts. Three years later, a proposed senate bill would have allowed the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission to regulate the sale and consumption of marijuana at licensed lounges. But it fell flat. Looking at Portland's record-breaking heat dome four years later Seith that reviving the push for cannabis cafes could help the state's flailing cannabis industry. For years now, businesses have seen a surplus of supply as demand has fallen. Seith – who has worked as a Portland budtender for about six years – is calling on fellow budtenders, cannabis brands and others in the industry to help gather more signatures. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
