AutoNation will Hire Applicants who Test Positively for Cannabis

It was recently revealed that AutoNation, a car retailer, is becoming a more cannabis friendly place to work. According to Bloomberg, AutoNation still tests job applicants for drugs, but if they test positive for cannabis, that doesn’t prevent them from getting hired.

Apparently this approach has “quietly” been AutoNation’s policy for some time now. Mike Jackson, CEO of the company, feels that this is a reflection of how drug policy is changing. “If you tested positive for marijuana, you couldn’t join our company,” he told Bloomberg, referring to the company’s previous policy. “At a certain point, we said, ‘You know what? That’s wrong.’”

AutoNation made it a point to explain that it will still bar potential employees who test positively for substances like cocaine or other similar drugs. They simply feel it is unfair to ban people just because they consume cannabis. Since many states have legalized medical and/or recreational cannabis, and it is being more closely regulated like the alcohol industry, it appears draconian to treat it so strictly.

“Companies recognize that they don’t screen for alcohol,” said John Challenger, co-founder of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago-based employment firm, according to Bloomberg. “So why would they do it for pot? As the war for talent grows and gets fiercer, it makes no sense to rule out a whole segment of candidates on something that just is no longer relevant.”

According to The Roanoke Times, AutoNation is the largest auto dealer chain in the U.S., which could definitely suggest an overall trend away from testing for cannabis.

With states coming under fire for unfair drug testing policies, it is no surprise that many are opting to avoid cannabis testing of employees, reserving drug testing only for hard drugs and in severe cases. So far, the new year promises to see more fairness towards cannabis in the realm of employment.