Amazon’s Big Cannabis Move: Why Company Drug Testing Policies Are More Important Than Ever

By Steven Hawkins, CEO of the United States Cannabis Council

If a drug testing policy that affects over a million Americans is changed, it will be a signal.

At the beginning of June, Amazon announced that it would no longer screen its employees for cannabis use in most situations. Times are changing, it was said. Switching to one of America’s largest employers makes sense.

Photo by Getty Images / Staff

Big companies are realizing that the time has come to adjust not only their attitudes but also their own policies regarding cannabis. In addition, they are exerting influence on the highest levels of government to end the federal ban.

Amazon is not alone in abolishing cannabis screening. From the corporate world to professional athletics, large organizations are making significant changes to – or removing – cannabis testing or sanctions. And for many companies, the move makes sense, especially in view of a massive labor shortage; Denying employment to an employee or quitting their job for recreational use of cannabis outside of the workplace is ridiculous (at least if you ask me – not to mention potential legal headaches for employers).

RELATED: Is This The Real Reason Amazon Is Supporting Marijuana Legalization?

Businesses of all shapes and sizes can lead by example and end unfair, outdated drug screening practices on their own terms. Given the power that big business has in this country, I would say this is an incredibly smart move – one that could benefit not just the workforce but the country as a whole.

Cannabis Stereotypes vs. Real Public Health Risks

From the Reefer Madness era to the Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign, cannabis users have been portrayed as lazy, couch-bound stoners for decades. However, recent research shows that not only is this narrative blatantly wrong, but the results also suggest that cannabis use and government legalization may actually have a net positive public health effect.

As? As an example, researchers found that light to moderate cannabis use improved physical activity and activity levels. The old idea that recreational use of cannabis outside the clock would make a worker “lazy” just doesn’t hold up.

RELATED: Going into space isn’t the only way Jeff Bezos wants to get high

Alcohol, tobacco, and other legal drugs, on the other hand, have long been linked to increased cancer rates, negative job performance effects, and increased rates of preventable death. The use of these arguably more dangerous substances outside of the clock is not monitored by organizations in most situations.

Indeed, the main work-related problem that arises from cannabis use is related to criminal arrest or conviction – not to its mind or body effects. Additionally, preclinical studies have shown cannabis’ potential effectiveness in reducing anxiety, increasing focus, relieving pain, and more. To me, these certainly seem to be positive benefits for workers.

The economic benefits of political reform

While the quintessential “Amazon employee” may be one of the company’s thousands of warehouse workers, the reality is that Amazon employs people in a variety of roles, from programmers to engineers to marketing professionals. It is a true cross-section of humanity.

The company’s decision to lift cannabis screening standards for positions that are not regulated by the Federal Ministry of Transport affects a large portion of its employees and sheds light on the many, many faces of cannabis use – a vital element when legalization is in place Ride wins.

Photo by 400tmax / Getty Images

We may have to wait a while for the federal ban to end, despite the Senate’s Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), which aims to legalize cannabis and conduct social reform, the most significant opportunity for major reform since cannabis was first introduced featured on the prohibitive list of controlled substances in Annex I in 1970.

As the legislature wheels slowly spin around cannabis, the U.S. economic recovery is stuttering.

Despite the healthiest month for jobs in the US this year – with more than expected 943,000 new jobs in July – the unprecedented labor shortage is making it difficult for employers to find workers to fill those positions. Employees have the upper hand for the first time in a long time – and employers who meet the moment with smart, modern hiring policies will win the most.

And considering that the majority of the individuals adversely affected by outdated cannabis screening or possession laws are People of Color, the removal of this baseless employee screening standard also serves to improve equity and opportunity.

Public opinion shows the way

Americans are accepting cannabis use and government legalization more than ever, and jobs and organizations that fail to keep up with these attitude changes are being left behind.

Public opinion and private sector pressures influence change at the legislative level. Think of the massive social change surrounding marriage equality that led to the US Supreme Court decision in 2015 to lift all state bans on same-sex gay marriage.

In response to changing attitudes towards cannabis, professional sports leagues have made significant changes. The NBA and NFL have suspended or removed testing for cannabis use. The MLB has removed cannabinoids from its list of “drugs of abuse” and has discontinued testing requirements for lower league players. The NHL is still testing for cannabis but has no penalties for positive results.

Your move, great employer

The momentum for ending the federal cannabis ban is growing, but slowly. So it is up to big employers and companies to take action now and remove outdated screening standards for their own benefit and those who employ them.

Many technology giants like Microsoft and Apple have also stopped screening for cannabis use in most situations. But these steps primarily benefit the knowledge workers – not the hourly workers or workers who tend to have different sets of rules even while working for the same company.

We still have miles to go before there is equity across the economic and employment spectrum for cannabis use screening standards. But every step counts.

Steven Hawkins is CEO of the United States Cannabis Council, a 501 (c) 4 nonprofit that advocates social justice, ending the federal cannabis ban, modernizing state and state regulations, and promoting high ethical standards in the industry. Hawkins spent 30 years as a non-profit executive, foundation program officer, and civil / human rights attorney.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.