Amazon is not known for its kush workplace environments. In fact, quite the opposite: their reputation among workers is characterized by unsafe, utterly grueling conditions, hard work, low pay and long hours put into polishing Jeff Bezos’ bald head.
But, at least, now they won’t be screening anyone for marijuana use.
In a statement released on June 2nd, the $314.9 billion-dollar e-commerce company announced their full support for the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. And they’re walking the walk as well: dropping all requirements to test or otherwise screen employees for past marijuana use (for all positions not regulated by the DoT). From now on, cannabis will be treated like alcohol at Amazon — that is, as long as you aren’t using it on the job, it’s your business.
"In the past, like many employers, we've disqualified people from working at Amazon if they tested positive for marijuana use," wrote Dave Clark, the new CEO of Amazon, in a statement. "However, given where state laws are moving across the U.S., we've changed course."
This is a massive statement from one of the largest corporations on Earth – to both the public and the Federal government: it’s time for this prohibition bullshit to end.
“We hope that other employers will join us,” Clark’s statement continued. “And that policymakers will act swiftly to pass this law [the MORE Act].”
Should other corporations of similar sizes jump onboard this support train to cannabis-town, it could throw up the green flag for congress, signaling to lawmakers that the commercial market is ready for cannabis legalization. It could be the capitalistic push they need in order to truly understand that this losing battle isn’t worth fighting any more.
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