Human Composting, Legal Pot Use: 2 New CA Laws To Know

CALIFORNIA — Gov. Gavin Newsom just signed two breakthrough new bills into law that will implement more protections for workers and add more burial options for the dead.

California on Sunday became the seventh state in the nation that does not allow workplaces to discriminate against employees who ingest or smoke marijuana while off the job and away from the workplace, according to the text of Assembly Bill 2188.

When the law takes effect Jan. 1, 2024, employers will no longer be able to make hiring, firing or any other related decisions based on a drug test that can detect whether someone used cannabis recently or weeks before the test.

“Using an outdated test to determine workplace impairment does not increase workplace safety—it only causes employees to feel unsafe and harassed at work," said Amber Baur, executive director of the United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council. "We’re proud to support AB 2188 because it’s time for the law to keep up with science."

The bill does offer exceptions for those working in construction and for people applying for jobs that require a federal background check.

Under the new law, sponsored by Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D-Hayward), employers can still issue drug tests while hiring, but the tests may not screen for "nonpsychoactive cannabis metabolites."

The legislation was among nine other bills signed by Newsom to do away with older cannabis policies. Among them were Assembly Bill 2210, which allows venues with liquor licenses to host cannabis events; and Senate Bill 1186, which prevents local bans on medicinal cannabis delivery and access to products.

Assembly Bill 351, also just signed into law, hands Californians a new burial option — human composting. By 2027, residents will be able to opt into the state regulatory process for natural organic reduction.

Traditionally, the two after-death options in California are cremation or burial. Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), who authored the eco-friendly bill, said the new option reduces harm to the environment.

"With climate change and sea-level rise as very real threats to our environment, this is an alternative method of final disposition that won’t contribute emissions into our atmosphere," Garcia said in a statement.

The method allows human remains to decompose over a 30- to 45-day period. Remains are placed in a steel vessel and buried in wood chips, alfalfa and other biodegradable materials.

The process transforms remains into nutrient-dense soil which can be returned to families or to conservation properties. The process avoids the use of fossil fuels and carbon monoxide emissions that cremations require.

The Golden State joins Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Vermont in legalizing human composting as a burial method.

Alternatively, the California Catholic Conference said the process of composting "reduces the human body to simply a disposable commodity."

The Catholic group argues that this method was first developed for livestock, not humans.

"These methods of disposal were used to lessen the possibility of disease being transmitted by the dead carcass," she wrote. "Using these same methods for the 'transformation' of human remains can create an unfortunate spiritual, emotional and psychological distancing from the deceased."

Newsom did not comment on the bill.

Read more about new legislation in California:

• 5 New CA Laws You Need To Know About
• 5 New CA Laws You Need To Know About: Heat Protections; Climate Change
• CA Becomes 1st To Adopt This Controversial Social Media Law
• New CA Gun Law Signed By Newsom: What To Know