Newsom signs law protecting California workers who smoke 24 hours a day

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several bills into law on Sunday aimed at “strengthening California’s cannabis laws, expanding the legal cannabis market, and repairing the damage of cannabis prohibition.”

One of those measures, according to local news station ABC10, will protect “workers from discrimination in the workplace because of their off-hour cannabis use” by preventing companies from “punishing workers who fail a certain type of drug test, which determines if they are.” it’s not a person is high, but whether the person has used marijuana at all in the past few days.”

“For too many Californians, the promise of cannabis legalization remains unachievable,” Newsom said in a press release Sunday. “These actions build on the important strides our state has made toward that goal, but much work remains to build an equitable, safe and sustainable legal cannabis industry. I look forward to working with the Legislature and policymakers to fully implement cannabis legalization in communities across California.”

ABC10 reported that the drug tests in question “are based on urine or hair samples, [and] Look for a substance the body makes when it breaks down THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana.”

“But this substance, called a metabolite, can remain in a person’s body for weeks after consuming marijuana, according to the Mayo Clinic. It means people can fail a drug test even though they are not impaired,” the broadcaster reported.

The Off-hour Cannabis Use Protection Act was passed by the California legislature last month.

It was one of several cannabis-related bills signed into law Sunday by Newsom, whose office said “the state has made significant strides since legalizing cannabis, local opposition, rigid bureaucracy and federal bans on the industry continue.” pose challenges and consumers.”

One bill will “create a process for California to enter into agreements with other states to allow cannabis transactions with companies outside of California,” the governor’s office said, while another bill “preempts local bans on medical cannabis supply and patient access.” to legal, regulated cannabis products.”

A fourth law will ensure “Californians with past cannabis-related convictions get those convictions sealed.”

“These bills build on government efforts to strengthen California’s cannabis legalization framework. As part of this year’s state budget, the governor signed into law a tax break for consumers and the cannabis industry; support venture capital; strengthening enforcement tools against illegal cannabis operators; strengthen employee protection; expand access to legitimate retail; and to protect youth, environmental and public safety programs that are funded from cannabis tax revenues,” the Newsom office said in the release.

The office added, “To expedite policy reforms that prioritize and protect the health and safety of California consumers, the governor has directed the California Department of Public Health to convene subject matter experts to review current scientific research and policy mechanisms to address the.” to address the increasing incidence of highs -potent cannabis and hemp products. The Governor has also directed the Department of Cannabis Control to advance scientific understanding of potency and associated health effects by prioritizing funding for research related to cannabis potency through its existing public university grants.”

It is the second time this month that Newsom has taken action to protect Californians’ right to consume cannabis freely.

Earlier this month, Newsom signed two bills into law aimed at preventing medical marijuana patients from being discriminated against by doctors and surgeons for testing positive for THC.

“Many doctors are under the wrong impression that they can’t prescribe medication for patients who test positive for cannabis,” said Dale Gieringer, director of California’s NORML, on the bill.

A study by NORML found that 18.5% of patients were denied prescription treatment after a doctor found out about their past cannabis use.