The city of Rochester will no longer test job candidates for THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana.
City Council approved legislation Tuesday that, effective immediately, removed THC as a chemical tested for during pre-employment drug screenings. The city will continue testing for other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines.
Potential hires for certain positions where safety is a concern — police officers, for example — will still be tested for THC.
“This is an important piece of legislation that I think is going to do a lot of good,” Council member Mary Lupien said at the meeting.
In January, CITY highlighted the story of Jasmin Reggler, an aide to Lupien who was denied a position with the city after failing a THC test. After being denied employment, Reggler started a community push to change the city’s drug testing policy to more closely emulate New York City’s.
Last year, the New York City Council voted to ban all pre-employment THC testing, including for private employers. Private employers in Rochester can still test new hires.
Reggler is no longer seeking employment with the city.
Gino Fanelli is a CITY staff writer. He can be reached at gfanelli@rochester-citynews.com.