 Recently, there has been instructions for federal employees that not only can they NOT use marijuana under any circumstances, even medical usage on their off time, but they can’t even invest in it.
Federal documentation has clarified that they may not invest directly into any cannabis companies. They may not invest in EFT’s or mutual funds focused on cannabis. They can, however, invest in mutual funds or EFTs that cover a variety of industries, and won’t be punished if cannabis happens to fall into one of these. Those who are effected include people who work directly for the federal government, or have a job that requires federal security clearance, or anyone who serves in the military. According to ClearanceJobs, a network for professionals with federal security clearance, the level of your investment and your knowledge of the investment are both major factors. In regards to owning a mutual fund that happens to invest in marijuana stocks, the site states that “unless you’re personally selecting those stocks, clearance holders likely don’t need to be concerned.” The White House held an internal executive branch presentation which stated that job “eligibility may be negatively impacted if an individual knowingly and directly invests in stocks or business ventures that specifically pertain to marijuana growers and retailers.” Their reasoning was that willingly investing in such companies could show “questionable judgment” and “an unwillingness to comply with laws.” For those in roles within the federal government, it is important to remember that your finances can be evaluated at any time, not just when you are first hired. According to military.com, “Clearances now undergo continuous evaluation, so your ownership of such stocks may pop up and raise a big, red flag at any time.” The article even suggests you could lose your clearance and even your job. There’s a good chance that the federal laws will be changing in the near future, but for now, federal employees and the military need to be careful and stay out of cannabis investing. Comments are closed.
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