Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Hiring Policies topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County clarifies marijuana policy for public‑safety hires: one‑year disqualification window
Summary
Deputy Director Valerie Farrar told the committee that Prince George's County maintains a drug‑free workplace and public‑safety applicants who report marijuana use are disqualified for one year; the standard was relaxed from a longer disqualification and applies only to sworn public‑safety positions.
Council members pressed OHRM on how the county treats past marijuana use for applicants to police and fire positions. Deputy Director Valerie Farrar said the county maintains a drug‑free workplace and that the current standard for public‑safety hires disqualifies applicants for one year after marijuana use: "Although marijuana is legal in the state of Maryland, Prince George's County still has a drug free workforce, and we are applicants are disqualified for up to 1 year. So they can reapply, but their disqualification is for a year for the use of marijuana," Farrar said.
Committee members described past hiring practices that had longer exclusion windows and worried that the policy may deter otherwise eligible young applicants. Farrar said the county revised the standard to avoid over‑testing and disqualifying applicants on factors not necessary for the job. She emphasized the one‑year rule applies to public‑safety positions; civilian positions are subject to different standards.
