Amazon announced Tuesday it supports the federal legalization of marijuana, and that the company is revising a controversial workplace policy critics say has been used to keep employees working at a breakneck pace.
The twin announcements, Amazon said, are aimed at reiterating the company's commitment to being an attractive employer.
In a blog post, Dave Clark, CEO of Amazon's worldwide consumer division, said changing state laws on marijuana mean Amazon (AMZN) will no longer include the substance in the company's pre-employment drug tests and that the drug will now be treated the same as alcohol.
Positions subject to regulation by the US Department of Transportation will still include the marijuana test, Clark said, adding that the company will "continue to do impairment checks on the job and will test for all drugs and alcohol after any incident."
Clark went on to say that Amazon is endorsing a federal marijuana legalization bill, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act. "We hope other employers will join us, and that policymakers will act swiftly to pass this law."
Source: CNN