Cannabis laws may be relaxing across the country, but people in many professions are still prohibited from using the plant. As policies change, many industries are reconsidering their positions. Could pilots and air traffic controllers be next?
RELATED: Supreme Court rejects broad gun ban for cannabis consumers
As first reported by Cannabis Wire and Marijuana Moment, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is exploring whether it should revisit its cannabis policies. The agency will work with the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to convene a series of expert meetings and review existing scientific evidence as it works toward a consensus.
The FAA has an “urgent need to establish clear, scientifically defensible, and operationally actionable fitness-for-duty standards for pilots and air traffic control specialists (ATCS) in the context of evolving federal cannabis policy,” according to a post on the TRB website.
The announcement says proposed federal marijuana rescheduling, state medical cannabis programs, and other shifts in drug policy have created a “misalignment” that could pose operational risks. Through the research, the agency hopes to answer one central question:
“Following cannabis use, what elapsed time ensures both (1) absence of operational impairment and (2) compliance with DOT drug testing requirements?”
Representatives for the FAA told GreenState that the agency is focused on risk mitigation and interpreting the laws as written.
“The Department of Transportation’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations prohibit employees who perform safety duties from using Schedule I drugs, including marijuana. Safety is always the FAA’s top priority, and we look forward to participating in the upcoming meetings,” the agency said via e-mail.
RELATED: Lawsuits challenge DEA ruling on hemp-derived HHC
The DOT has maintained strict cannabis policies even as laws governing the plant have relaxed, though things could change if all marijuana is moved to Schedule III.
Advocates argue DOT rules should change because the presence of THC does not necessarily indicate impairment. Cannabinoids can remain detectable in the body for days or even weeks after use, while cannabis’ psychoactive effects generally wear off within about 24 hours. Even so, the DOT and FAA continue to enforce zero-tolerance policies on marijuana use among transportation and aviation workers.
The FAA research project is expected to take up to 18 months to complete. The agency said it wants to move quickly to finalize its policies as cannabis reform continues to evolve.
