Cannabis Users’ Restoration of Eligibility Act

To amend the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to limit the consideration or marihuana use when making a security clearance or employment suitability determination, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cannabis Users’ Restoration of Eligibility Act CURE Act 2. Limitation on adverse security clearance and suitability determinations based on marihuana use (a) In general Subsection (a)(1) of section 3002 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ( 50 U.S.C. 3343 , but does not include marihuana notwithstanding such section 102. (b) Review of security clearance denial based on marihuana use Such section 3002 is further amended by adding at the end the following: (e) Limitation on adverse security clearance and suitability determinations based on marihuana use (1) Prohibition Notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation, current or past use of marihuana by a covered person may not be used in any determination with respect to whether such person is— (A) eligible for a security clearance; or (B) suitable for Federal employment, including under any suitability determination pursuant to part 731 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations). (2) Review and reassessment (A) In general Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, each Federal agency shall establish a process to review each decision, made on or after January 1, 2008, to deny an individual— (i) a security clearance; or (ii) Federal employment as a result of an adverse suitability determination. (B) Publicly available Any process established pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be made available on the public website of the agency. (C) Reconsideration Upon receiving a request from any individual who was so denied a security clearance or employment (as the case may be), not later than 90 days after the date such request is so received— (i) the Federal agency that denied such clearance or employment shall review the decision; and (ii) if such review reveals that the denial was based on past or present marihuana use, such agency shall reconsider such individual’s security clearance or employment application. (3) Appeal (A) In general If a Federal agency denies an individual a security clearance or employment under a reconsideration pursuant to paragraph (2)(C), such individual may, not later than 30 days after the date of such denial, appeal the Federal agency determination to the Merit Systems Protection Board. (B) MSPB determination Not later than 120 days after receiving an appeal under subparagraph (A)— (i) the Board shall review the Federal agency reconsideration determination; and (ii) if the Board determines that such determination was primarily based on prior or current marihuana use, the Board shall order the Federal agency to immediately redetermine the individual’s request for reconsideration, consistent with the requirements of this subsection. (C) Limitation on judicial review Any decision by the Board under subparagraph (B) shall be final and not subject to judicial review. (4) Marihuana defined In this section, the term marihuana 21 U.S.C. 802(16) .

Summary: Cannabis Users' Restoration of Eligibility Act or the CURE ActThis bill prohibits a federal agency from considering past or present marijuana use to determine whether an individual is suitable for federal employment or eligible for a security clearance. It also establishes a review process for past applications.Under the bill, every federal agency must establish a process for reviewing any decision on or after January 1, 2008, to deny an individual (1) a security clearance, or (2) employment as a result of an adverse suitability determination. The process must be posted on the agency's website. The bill provides that an individual who was denied employment or a security clearance may ask the agency to review its decision. Within 90 days after the request is received, the agency must complete its review. If the denial was due to marijuana use, the agency must reconsider the security clearance or employment application. The bill specifies that the agency's decision may be appealed to the Merit Systems Protection Board.