After the year we just had, it’s no surprise that cannabis use is on the rise. The increased reliance on dispensaries as an essential business combined with progressive cannabis laws across the US means some corporations are no longer drug testing for marijuana. In fact, many employers now look the other way if you fail a drug test for cannabis alone. You may have read on the news that Amazon will no longer drug test for cannabis—but will other mass corporations follow suit?

Amazon No Longer Drug Testing for Cannabis

The biggest news headline of the week relates to Amazon. Say what you will about Jeff Bezos, but the company announced on June 2, 2021, that it will no longer drug test employees for marijuana. Multiple outlets reported that Amazon “will no longer include marijuana in its comprehensive drug screening program for positions that are not regulated by the Department of Transportation.”

Meaning, if your job at Amazon entails transportation or the operation of machinery, you will still be drug tested for cannabis. Failure to pass this drug test may result in termination. Note that Amazon will continue to do impairment checks on the job and will test for all drugs and alcohol after any incident. Basically, this is not a free-for-all pass to show up high at work.

“In the past, like many employers, we’ve disqualified people from working at Amazon if they tested positive for marijuana use,” CEO David Clark wrote in a blog post. “However, given where state laws are moving across the U.S., we’ve changed course.” We’re glad to hear it.

Target

If you’ve ever used Indeed or Glassdoor to search for a job, you may have seen their Q&A section. Target has not come forward with any official statements as of yet but we asked the big question for you: does the company perform drug testing for cannabis? According to Indeed users, Target only tests (urine sample) employees who operate machinery. One commenter added, “They only drug test if they suspect you of usage, or you have a major accident while on the clock.”

Walmart

Similar to Target, Walmart only tests for certain positions, according to Reddit users. But a different website claims that Walmart has one of the strictest zero-tolerance policies out of any massive corporation. Not that this should surprise anyone, but Walmart does not allow its employees to drink alcohol on the job or be under any sort of influence. Walmart uses a standard urine test that screens for five main drugs, including:

  • Methamphetamine
  • Cannabis
  • Heroin
  • Cocaine
  • PCP

Also, don’t be surprised if Walmart performs random drug testing as well as “suspicion” drug testing. A failed drug test results in immediate termination and forbids you from applying for a different Walmart job for at least a year.

Drug Testing at Grocery Stores

Out of all the big-name corporations, grocery stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods may have the most lenient workplace culture. Keep in mind that neither grocery store has publicly announced that they do or do not drug test, so this is all internet hearsay. Current and previous employees at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods say that a drug test is extremely unlikely, though it may depend on your state.

One Indeed user wrote, “No, otherwise more than half the crew they have wouldn’t have passed. Pretty sure it varies depending on the state you’re in. Texan stores are likely to, while Californian stores like mine don’t.

On Reddit, one Trader Joe’s employee commented, “TJ Crew Member here — We do not drug test employees or job applicants. I mean also don’t show up high and unable to work, obviously, but so far as applications go, you’re in the clear.”

The only exception to the rule may stand with Safeway. Multiple users on Reddit and Indeed confirmed that Safeway conducts a saliva test during the interview process. But again, it depends on your state and whether it has legalized cannabis. In California, for instance, one employee did not have to take a drug test. A second Californian employee said they failed their test for weed and still got hired.

Preparing for Your Job Interview

Better safe than sorry, right? Most companies still require drug testing as part of the interview process (usually a urine sample). After that, you may be free to smoke as much as you’d like as long as you do not show signs of suspicion at work. If you operate machinery, it’s best to avoid cannabis at all costs as you could risk your life and the lives of others.