As Bloomberg reports, citing viewed correspondence between Amazon and four delivery companies, the retail giant is advising them to prominently advertise that they do not screen applicants for marijuana use. It said this could increase the number of applicants by up to 400 percent. Drug testing, on the other hand, reduced the number of potential employees by up to 30 percent, Amazon said in a statement.
Speaking to Bloomberg, the head of a delivery company stated that marijuana was actually the main reason most people failed drug tests. Now that they only test for drugs like opiates and amphetamines, more drivers pass the test.
That’s my problem, not Amazon’s
Other delivery companies continue to review applicants, concerned about the impact on insurance and liability in those U.S. states where marijuana use remains illegal. They fear, according to the report, that eliminating drug testing “may encourage some drivers to pull a joint before driving.” “If one of my drivers crashes and kills someone and tests positive for marijuana, that’s my problem, not Amazon’s,” Bloomberg quoted one driver, who wished to remain anonymous.
