Federal Government Reminds Workers That Marijuana Is Still Off Limits

The disparity between federal and state-level laws regarding marijuana use has created many questions in states where medical or recreational drug use is allowed.

From police questioning whether to uphold state or federal level laws to banks refusing to lend due to federal restrictions, the marijuana industry is tangled in conflicting legislation.

However, on Wednesday, the federal government's Office of Personnel Management hoped to clear up at least one issue by confirming that government employees are barred from both medical and recreational drug use no matter what the law says in the state where they live.

No Pot For Government Employees

The office issued a statement on Wednesday warning federal employees that they are barred from using marijuana in any capacity, whether the state they live in has legalized it or not.

The issue had become increasingly murky after the District of Colombia, where around 500,000 of the government's employees live, legalized recreational marijuana use.

Related Link: Legal Recreational Pot: Who's Next?

Bound By Federal Laws

As federal workers can be subjected to routine drug tests, many questioned whether or not they could lose their jobs by testing positive for pot if local laws allowed it. However, the statement reminded workers that they are bound by federal, not local, legislation.

Since marijuana use is still classed as a criminal activity in the federal government's eyes, that makes pot off limits for federal employees.