Amazon is pushing for legalization of cannabis, but intentions are still unclear

Amazon is rumored to start selling cannabis, but they say they’re on the legal bandwagon for other reasons. The company has backed US Representative Nancy Mace’s legislation to end the federal marijuana ban. This is reportedly the first time it has backed a Republican-led bill on the issue.

The legalization of marijuana could also open the door to a lucrative new market for the largest online retailer. But the tech giant says it’s not interested in selling pot. “There are no plans to sell cannabis and that’s not why we’re doing it or [being involved] in this debate. We recognized that this was a barrier to our ability to hire employees,” said Brian Huseman, Amazon’s vice president of public policy.

Nancy Mace has commented that “it is critical that businesses large and small recognize the implications of cannabis prohibitions and what a downside it is that the federal government stands in the way of state laws and this type of reform.”

Amazon has been working hard to adapt to the new policies and changes that come with cannabis legalization. They support these changes by welcoming a new employment policy to end drug testing for cannabis for most workers. Amazon announced last year that they support legalization efforts, and they have since campaigned both publicly and privately for other Democrat-led proposals that, like Mace’s, would remove marijuana from the federal government’s controlled substances list.

Amazon no longer includes marijuana in its comprehensive drug screening program for positions not regulated by the Department of Transportation. The hope was that this would result in a significant reduction in the number of workers in the country who face the prospect of being fired simply for using cannabis at home while not working, and it was a good opportunity for Amazon to Remove hiring barriers and attract more employees.

Legalization advocates aren’t entirely convinced that Amazon has no further plans for the future. Some say it’s a self-interested move to monopolize yet another market that could potentially deter black and Latino entrepreneurs from a burgeoning industry. The fact that both parties are receiving support is a positive step forward, and there is hope that other major retailers will follow suit and use their resources to lobby for federal legalization and deletion.

What do you think are Amazon’s real intentions? Are they another predator in the market for small businesses and minority entrepreneurs who don’t stand a chance? Or could this be a good thing for the future of cannabis? Let us know in the comments and follow us @cannalifenet!

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