SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle police department says it is loosening rules on past marijuana use by applicants.

Police officials say the change in policy comes because voters legalized the recreational use of pot by approving Initiative 502.

The department says that until this week, applicants were immediately disqualified if they had smoked marijuana within three years of applying for a position. The new rule lowers that to a year.

Assistant Chief Jim Pugel says the department will also reevaluate other marijuana-related hiring policies. Another assistant chief, Dick Reed, says the department is trying to find a middle ground that doesn’t exclude viable candidate.

Even with the new policy, Reed says it’s not often an applicant is disqualified for a job because of marijuana use.