Amazon announces they will no longer be testing employees for marijuana use

Amazon announced on June 1st that it will no longer include marijuana in its drug screenings for some workers unless their position is regulated by the Department of Transportation.

Prior to this, a New York man sued Amazon for rescinding his job offer at an Amazon warehouse because he tested positive for marijuana, even though the city banned employers from testing job applicants for cannabis. With the shift in policy, Amazon will test workers for other drugs and conduct “impairment checks” on the job. The only job candidates Amazon will screen for marijuana are those applying for positions regulated by the Department of Transportation.

The company explained that it will handle marijuana the same way it deals with alcohol. Amazon also stated that it will test for all drugs and alcohol after any accidents or other incidents. Ultimately, Amazon is throwing its weight behind the push to legalize marijuana and remove criminal records for non-violent, marijuana-related convictions.

Amazon announced that it will support the federal legalization of marijuana by pushing lawmakers to pass the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2021. The company said in a statement that “We hope that other employers will join us, and that policymakers will act swiftly to pass this law.”

ARTICLE: GABRIELLA ANTOS
MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE
PHOTO CREDITS: THE HILL