Report: Dozens of White House staffers sacked or suspended for past recreational use of cannabis

March 19, 2021 KayAdmin US 0

WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 18: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris leads a meeting with women leaders of the labor community to commemorate Womens History Month and the passage of the American Rescue Plan in Harris’ ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on March 18, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

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UPDATED 4:45 PM PT – Friday, March 19, 2021

The White House defended the move to fire and sideline staffers with past cannabis use despite its previous position to overlook weed consumption during the transition.

On Friday, Press Secretary Jen Psaki responded to those reports in a tweet. She doubled down and said “of the hundreds of people hired, only five people who had started working at the White House are no longer employed as a result of this policy.”

As a result, more people will serve who would not have in the past with the same level of recent drug use. The bottom line is this: of the hundreds of people hired, only five people who had started working at the White House are no longer employed as a result of this policy.

— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) March 19, 2021

This came after the previous Biden position would “likely overlook past marijuana use” so long as it was “limited” and the staffer “wasn’t pursuing a position that required a security clearance.” In the meantime, the move also shined a light on VP Kamala Harris’ previous admission during the 2020 Democrat primary that she smoked marijuana in the past.

Hear what #KamalaHarris thinks about legalizing marijuana 💬 pic.twitter.com/YGZlCAKUZ0

— The Breakfast Club (@breakfastclubam) February 11, 2019

On The Breakfast Club morning radio show, Harris was asked if she had ever smoked. She answered, “I have, and I inhaled.” She also stated she remembered the high.

It is unclear if VP Harris will be sidelined as well.

The White House move was in stark contrast to the recent actions taken by the Democrat-led Senate, which has pushed for marijuana legalization as 14 states, including Washington D.C., have voted to approve recreational or medicinal cannabis use.