Will More nd More Companies Follow Suit

The days of the ridiculous peeing in a cup so businesses could discipline (and or fire) employers for cannabis use may be coming to an end. We all hope! 

With Amazon now supporting cannabis legalization for recreational purposes at both the state and federal level more archaic thinking and punitive dominoes will  fall.

On to the article.

Cannabis testing was mandatory for workers in multiple firms, including Amazon, and applicants had to pass drug tests to get a job or continue it. The trend of marijuana legalization and decriminalization is spreading quickly and is changing this norm. 

Moreover, the number of states that have legalized pot is increasing. It impacts the entire community and increases the demand for designing a regulatory system, a monitoring system.

Passing the cannabis legalization and decriminalization regulations means it's time to make some other changes such as alteration of employee hiring criteria, alteration of testing protocols, and many others. 

Amazon Changing Its Cannabis Testing Policies

Amazon is one of the largest e-commerce markets and has thousands of employees. Previously, the company demands its employees to pass cannabis testing after a specific period or under certain circumstances. 

However, in a June announcement, Amazon agrees to support pot legalization for recreational purposes on state and federal levels. Moreover, to show its sincerity the company begins with altering its job qualification criteria. As a result, marijuana testing is no longer a requirement for Amazon employees. 

ALSO READ: Cannabis Related Accidents On The Rise After Marijuana Legalization

It is unclear to which extent Amazon will make efforts to legalize recreational cannabis on the federal level. However, publically pledging to relax its cannabis testing policy and alter drug testing policies was a big move, to begin with. 

Besides, this action of Amazon paves the way for many other organizations to do the same, and it can become immensely influential. 

Is There A Change In Employment Policies And Drug Testing Policies In Other States?

Drug testing policies and employment policies vary from state to state. It also differs from one organization to another. The nature of the job and duties that an employee has to perform during working hours also determine whether it is necessary for an employee to pass cannabis testing procedures or not. 

In some states, medical marijuana users with a medical license have employment protection. However, the rules do not apply to recreational marijuana users. The type, language, and degree of employment protection an employee can enjoy also vary. 

Paul Armentano is the deputy director of the cannabis advocacy group NORML. NORML stands for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. According to Armentano, before 2017, medical marijuana users were not given employment protection, but the trend has changed remarkably over time.

States like New York, Nevada, and some others have passed ordinances that restrict employers from firing an employee just for the reason of using pot for recreational purposes. 

According to Armentano, positive cannabis testing results do not mean a person recently used marijuana. Weed behaves differently from alcohol, and its metabolites can stay for years after the last consumption of marijuana products. 

 

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms eliminate cannabis testing for city employees entering non-safety sensitive positions. The federal government also relaxes some of its employment policies and drug testing. However, cannabis under federal law is under schedule 1 drug and is illegal.

ALSO READ: Mexico’s Supreme Court’s Cannabis Push

 

Eliminating Cannabis Testing Irrespective Of Change In Legislation

 

Some employers have already changed their drug testing policies between 2015 and 2020. Barry Sample is the senior director of science and technology. According to Sample, the number of organizations that test for THC presence or other marijuana metabolites has decreased. Besides, Quest Diagnostic observed a 5.2 percent decrease in the number of firms applying for cannabis testing.

 

According to Sample, a decrease of 8.5 percent in the number of firms demanding cannabis testing occurred in states. Particularly, states that have legalized recreational use of cannabis.

In Indiana, a shortage of work force was likely to happen. Organizations begin to relax cannabis testing policies to resolve the situation. Doing so was a way of attracting more talented people to work irrespective of their recreational pot use or medical need for marijuana.