Last November, two-thirds of Washington, D.C., residents voted to pass Initiative 71, which decriminalizes the possession of marijuana in the district. The sale and use of medical marijuana became legal in Washington, D.C., in 2010, but Initiative 71 allows for residents 21 and older to grow and consume small amounts of pot at home. Despite congressional resistance, the D.C. Council took up an emergency measure to prohibit companies from drug testing during preemployment screening. However, companies can still test their existing employees, and fire them if they test positive, because marijuana is still illegal under federal law. It’s a confusing situation for companies, employees, and job applicants, and it is becoming even more complicated in light of lawsuits, federal contracts, contradictory laws, and the evolving perception of marijuana in society at large.

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