The U.S. Department of Transportation said truck drivers and other safety-sensitive employees will still be tested for marijuana use. 

DOT made the announcement following President Trump’s executive order directing the U.S. Department of Justice to complete the rescheduling process of marijuana to a Schedule III drug from a Schedule I drug. Schedule III drugs are generally defined as drugs with a moderate-to-low potential for physical and psychological dependence. 

Marijuana use by truck drivers, including medical use, is prohibited under federal regulations. DOT said that marijuana is still a Schedule I drug, and “until the rescheduling process is complete, the Department of Transportation’s drug testing process and regulations will not change.”

Trump’s executive order immediately raised concerns about the impact on drug testing programs.

“While we do not hold a formal position on marijuana legalization or deregulation, we are concerned about the safety risks of rescheduling marijuana without explicit safeguards to preserve the testing authority and technical requirements that apply to DOT-regulated, safety-sensitive workers,” said Brenna Lyles, vice president of safety policy for the American Trucking Associations. 

Marijuana accounts for nearly 60% of all positive drug tests among commercial drivers subject to DOT testing requirements, ATA said. 

“Without clear measures to ensure DOT’s drug- and alcohol-testing program retains — and is equipped to execute — marijuana testing authority, such a federal policy shift could have serious consequences for highway safety and the integrity of the national transportation network.”

DOT said it would “continue to monitor the rescheduling process and update the transportation industry as appropriate.”