🚨INDUSTRY ALERT🚨

Marijuana Rescheduling & the Future of Workplace Safety

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Marijuana Rescheduling: Why a Safety Carve-Out Must Come First

The long-anticipated federal rescheduling of marijuana is now at the center of a national safety discussion once again—one with major consequences for DOT-covered, safety-sensitive employees, and for every employer responsible for protecting the public.

The proposed rescheduling of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III may expand medical research and reduce regulatory barriers—but without a federal safety carve-out, it creates a serious and unintended risk for public safety.

Under current federal rules, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) authorizes drug testing for Schedule I and II substances for safety-sensitive employees regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT). If marijuana is moved to Schedule III without changes to these rules, it would be automatically removed from federally mandated drug testing panels.

That outcome would eliminate a proven safety deterrent for pilots, commercial drivers, school bus drivers, transit drivers, and railroad workers—industries where impairment can have catastrophic consequences.

Rescheduling Should Not Reduce Safety

Rescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III unintentionally creates a regulatory blind spot that undermines decades of transportation and workplace safety progress. Rescheduling should not come at the expense of workplace safety or public trust. Medical access, research expansion, and tax relief can move forward—but only if federal safety protections move forward with them.

Safety must come first. Rescheduling without a carve-out is not modernization—it’s a step backward. 

 

📢 The National Conversation on Marijuana Rescheduling

To address these urgent concerns, the National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) is hosting a landmark national event bringing together federal lawmakers and the nation’s top drug and alcohol compliance experts.

December 16, 2025 | 4:00 PM EST
Live Stream – Open to the Public
🔗 Registration link: (NDASA will email your access after registering)

Featured Federal Speakers

NDASA is honored to welcome:

• Congressman Pete Sessions (R–Texas)
• Congressman Andy Harris (R–Maryland)

They will join industry experts to discuss the safety implications of marijuana rescheduling and how it may disrupt long-standing federal drug-testing protocols.

Host

Jo McGuire, Executive Director, NDASA

 

Meet the Expert Panel

Patrice M. Kelly – Longest-serving Director of the DOT Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance (ODAPC), President, Patrice Kelly Consulting

William Judge – Senior Research Attorney, Drug Screening Compliance Institute

Dr. Todd Simo – President, American Association of Medical Review Officers

These leading authorities will break down the implications of rescheduling and provide clarity on what the transportation industry—and all U.S. employers—need to prepare for.

 

What This Event Will Help You Understand

This national conversation will explore:

• What could happen if the White House proceeds with rescheduling
• How DEA, DOT, and Congress may respond
• What protections must remain in place to prevent impairment-related tragedies
• How employers and industry leaders can advocate for public safety

This is not a theoretical exercise—this is a real-time policy shift that could change the foundation of workplace safety across America.

Don’t Miss This Nationally Significant Live Event

Learn directly from lawmakers and the trusted experts in drug and alcohol compliance.

Register today: 🔗 Registration link: (NDASA will email your access after registering)