Pre-Employment Marijuana Screening Scrapped In Michigan And Other Reg Cannabis Updates

As Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference returns to Chicago this Sept 27-28 for its 17th edition, gathering top CEOs, investors and leaders in the cannabis industry, let's scroll through the latest regulatory changes in the space.

Pre-Employment Marijuana Screening Scrapped For Michigan State Employees

Starting next week, the implementation of new regulations will put an end to the customary pre-employment marijuana screening for the majority of state employees.

The new policy takes effect on Sunday, Oct.1. It got the green light from the Michigan Civil Service Commission members in July. The new rules would not apply to law enforcement workers, those who operate vehicles, provide health care, or work with prisoners, as they would be tested for cannabis before hiring.

NORML's deputy director Paul Armentano said that "workplace policies" must "adapt to this new reality and cease punishing employees for activities they engage in during their off-hours that pose no workplace safety threat."

'This is the Final Time' Nebraska Cannabis Activist Says On Push To Legalize MMJ

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana's (NMM) campaign manager, Crista Eggers, says that legalization of medical cannabis doesn't have an alternative as they fight to put the issue on the Nebraska ballot for the third time.

"There's just no choice," Eggers told Marijuana Moment in a phone interview. "I keep calling it the final time—not because there would be any giving up, but this is the final time. We're going to get it done."

Medical marijuana advocates in Nebraska launched their third petition campaign this month with an aim to put legalization to voters on the general election ballot in November 2024.

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Discuss Billion-Dollar Cannabis Industry's Social Equity Concerns At Groundbreaking Conference

Last week, a group of Pennsylvania lawmakers gathered at the 6th annual Cannabis Opportunities Conference— part of the Diasporic Alliance for Cannabis Opportunity's (DACO) Black Cannabis Week—discussed the importance of social equity and ways of incorporating it into the legal market, reported Marijuana Moment.

"This is going to be a multibillion-dollar industry," Sen. Sharif Street (D), who hosted the event, said. "We need to make sure that we're inclusive… We need to ensure that folks can participate at every level of this industry."

Say No To Illicit Marijuana Grows: Oklahoma Attorney General Mobilizes Task Force

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond recently formed a new task force that seeks to tackle illegal marijuana grows statewide.

The Organized Crime Task Force is slated to work with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to end illegal grow operations.

Simultaneously, Drummond called on citizens to report any illicit marijuana grows to a new anonymous tipline.

"Illegal marijuana grows are responsible for an alarming influx of organized crime into our communities, particularly from Mexican drug cartels and Chinese crime syndicates," the attorney general said in the release. "I have made it a priority to wipe out these illicit operators and this task force is a crucial component to driving out criminals and ensuring public safety."

The Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, the place where deals get done, is happening this week in Chicago on Sept 27-28. Get your tickets today before prices increase and secure a spot at the epicenter of cannabis investment and branding.

Photo: Benzinga edit of image by Shutterstock