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Michigan to stop testing for weed for these positions in October

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Michigan to stop testing for weed for these positions in October


Next month marks the end of drug tests probing for marijuana use among some of the government’s tens of thousands of employees who work for the state of Michigan. 

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Following a summer vote by members on the Michigan Civil Service Commission who unanimously agreed to remove marijuana from the pre-employment drug testing protocols, the state policy will kick in at the beginning of October.

Employees who work in law enforcement, operate vehicles, provide health care, or work with prisoners would be among those who would still be tested for cannabis before being hired. The policy change would impact about two-thirds of the jobs within the state government. 

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“Whether or not we agree with (recreational marijuana) is kind of beyond the point in terms of pre-hire,” said Commissioner Nick Ciaramitaro earlier this summer. “Use of marijuana on the job is different than having used it months before you take the test.

“It doesn’t make sense to eliminate qualified people because they took a gummi two weeks ago.”

Among the reasons to amend the state’s drug testing policy was because the state had already approved recreational use of cannabis years before. 

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The four commissioners met on July 12 this year to discuss the amendment after the personnel director issued a call for public comment on updating pre-employment testing for pot. Here’s what to know about the upcoming policy.

MORE: US health agency recommends loosening federal marijuana laws

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How is state drug testing changing?

Michigan will no longer test for marijuana during pre-employment drug screening for some new-hires.

It currently tests for drugs listed as schedule 1 or 2 such as marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and phencyclidine. 

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Who is impacted by change?

The state of Michigan employees 48,000 people. About two-thirds of the positions the city employs workers for are considered non-test designated, meaning they will not be screened for marijuana.

The rest of the jobs that will still test for marijuana during the pre-employment hiring process include positions:

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  • Requiring a commercial driver’s license or operating certain vehicles, equipment, and machinery
  • Law enforcement powers or allowed to carry a firearm on duty
  • Providing healthcare services
  • Working with prisoners, probationers, or parolees
  • Working with unsupervised access to controlled substances
  • Handling hazardous or explosive materials

What about those currently barred from employment?

There are an estimated 200 applicants who tested positive for marijuana while applying for a position with the state. On Oct. 1, the positions they applied for will no longer be subject to testing.

The state says those individuals can email the civil service department and request a removal of their sanction. After then, they will be eligible for state employment. 

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Does this impact random drug testing?

Drug testing for test-designated positions includes random testing and occurs routinely. The upcoming policy change would not impact the current testing schedule. 



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Michigan

Michigan State Spartans Insider Podcast: Recapping Spartans’ Win Over Washington

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Michigan State Spartans Insider Podcast: Recapping Spartans’ Win Over Washington


No. 16 Michigan State just keeps winning, and it’s doing so against quality Big Ten teams.

The Spartans steamrolled Washington at the Breslin Center on Thursday, besting the visitors, 88-54. They did so in front of a vibrant home crowd on what was the annual Alumni Night.

With the victory, Michigan State improves to 13-2 on the year, 4-0 in Big Ten play and 8-0 on its home court. It is also extended its win streak to eight games.

Our Aidan Champion recaps the win on this postgame edition of the Michigan State Spartans Insider Podcast.

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You can watch the episode below:

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo addressed the media after Thursday’s contest.

Below is a partial transcript from Izzo’s opening statement:

Izzo: “Well, when you have a game like that, it’s hard to even know what to say except — that was Matt Larson that said it walking up the steps — I hope every media person, every alum, every student and every fan, appreciates the specialness we have here. The alumni reunions that we have every year are incredible, but for that many former Izzone members to come back over 20 and 30 years was special. Special for me, I think special for my team. And I almost felt sorry for Washington; I mean, they probably thought they were coming in here and there’d be no students. And that group was so good and so fired up; there was no entitlement, none of them left, none of them transferred. They were unbelievable. And I could have stayed there for a half hour after and thanked each and every one of them. But in all the things that happen, please appreciate that this place is different. It’s different. You can say it about places all over — this place is damn different. And I’m just thankful for them, I’m thankful for our marketing people, I’m thankful for our Izzone coach and I’m thankful for all the people that put in the work to get this thing done. I don’t want to make it bigger than the game, but for Tom Izzo, it’s bigger than the game. And when Matt said it to me walking up the steps, I thought it was special.”

Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.

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Michigan State football lands Division II transfer WR Rodney Bullard from Valdosta State

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Michigan State football lands Division II transfer WR Rodney Bullard from Valdosta State


Jonathan Smith continues to replenish his roster and Michigan State football’s receiver room.

The Spartans picked up a pledge Thursday from wideout Rod Bullard, a transfer from Division II Valdosta State in Georgia. The 6-foot, 170-pound native of Albany, Georgia, has two years of eligibility remaining after redshirting in 2022 and playing 28 games the past two seasons.

As a sophomore in the fall, Bullard caught 42 passes for 1,001 yards with 12 touchdowns and an average of 23.8 yards per catch. The Blazers lost to Ferris State in the Division II national title game, and Bullard had three catches for 15 yards in the 49-14 loss.

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In 2023, he had 43 catches for 566 yards and seven scores and returned 16 kicks for a 24.8-yard average with a 99-yard touchdown return.

Bullard is the 14th transfer and third incoming receiver, joining Chrishon McCray (Kent State) and Omari Kelly (Middle Tennessee State). The Spartans lost wideouts Jaron Glover (Mississippi State), Jaelen Smith (Texas-San Antonio), Aziah Johnson (North Carolina) and Antonio Gates Jr. (undecided) among 13 outbound transfers from their 2024 team that finished 5-7 and missed a bowl game for the third straight season.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

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 Subscribe to the “Spartan Speak” podcast for new episodes weekly on Apple PodcastsSpotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.





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Michigan basketball signee enrolls early, will practice with team

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Michigan basketball signee enrolls early, will practice with team


A member of the Michigan men’s basketball 2025 recruiting class is already on campus.

Oscar Goodman, a 6-foot-7 forward from New Zealand, is enrolled for the winter semester, which started on Wednesday, a team spokesperson said. Goodman will not appear in games this season but will be allowed to practice and participate in other team activities.

The spokesperson said this was not a typical “reclassification” — when an athlete graduates early and competes in college a season ahead of a typical schedule — but a byproduct of New Zealand’s school calendar.

Goodman will be listed as a freshman on the roster (he wasn’t listed on the online version as of Thursday morning) and a redshirt freshman next season. The rest of the Wolverines returned to campus on Wednesday after a week-long stay in Los Angeles, where they beat USC and UCLA.

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“Oscar arrives in Ann Arbor as an accomplished international player and prospect, who was just named to the New Zealand senior national team,” Michigan coach Dusty May said in a statement upon Goodman’s signing in November.

“He comes from a tight-knit family that values everything that we want our program to be about. His training at the NBA (Global) Academy, as well as his eagerness and ability to compete, will allow him to affect our program positively from day one.”

Goodman, from Opunake, is ranked as the No. 75 player in the 2025 class according to the 247Sports composite. He was an all-star at the 2024 FIBA under-17 World Cup after averaging 17 points, 6.3 rebounds, and three assists per game.

Michigan’s 2025 class also includes Orchard Lake St. Mary’s guard Trey McKenney, the No. 1 player in Michigan and No. 19 prospect nationally, and wing Winters Grady (No. 82), an Oregon native currently playing for Prolific Prep in Napa, California. They figure to arrive in Ann Arbor in the summer.

  • BETTING: Check out our guide to the best Michigan sportsbooks, where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks.



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