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25 Big Companies That Don’t Drug Test Employees

Hamna Asim
23 min read

In This Article:

In this article, we discuss 25 big companies that don’t drug test employees. If you want to skip our detailed discussion on the topic, head directly to 5 Big Companies That Don't Drug Test Employees. 

Using cannabis can affect attention, memory, and learning, same as alcohol. It is understandable that employers prefer workers to be lucid during work, be it drugs or alcohol. However, workplace drug testing can only detect recent cannabis or drug use, and it does not necessarily determine potential safety problems in the future. Other substances like opioids, antidepressants, and medically prescribed marijuana can also cause impairment. If an employee offers a valid prescription, the employer has to legally accept their use of these medications. Similarly, with recreational drugs, unless employees come to work visibly stoned or with their mental faculties impaired, should it really matter to employers what they do on their own time? CBD products that don’t cause a high in users may also contain elements that trigger a positive response on a drug screening test. 

While many states approve of pre-employment drug testing, some instruct employers to inform applicants beforehand. An SHRM report highlighted that courts have decreed that pre-employment drug testing is not the same as medical examinations as per the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission demands that these drug tests be carried out after employees receive a conditional job acceptance. This is because the employer may need to make further medical inquiries to applicants based on the test results. Employers should also take into consideration local regulations. For example, conducting random drug tests is prohibited unless mandated by federal law in San Francisco. In California, the state constitution allows individuals the right to privacy, which means drug screenings without proper basis, such as random tests, are permitted in very exceptional circumstances. Similarly, employers must submit a written request to the labor commissioner in Connecticut, stating the reasons for performing random drug screenings, and get approval for the process.

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Moreover, the legalization of adult-use cannabis across a majority of states is also disrupting the “Just Say No” era when it comes to employment. One significant factor behind the decision to relax drug testing policies is the lack of young blood in the aging workforce. This extends to the federal government and military as well. Per a New York Times report, the US military has allowed 3,400 candidates who failed to meet the drug screening criteria to try for recruitment again over the last five years. Similarly, the FBI and CIA are also relaxing their drug policies and allowing the use of marijuana among job applicants. Moreover, the Biden Administration is aiming to be more lenient when it comes to security clearances, given that over half of the American population has indulged in recreational or medicinal cannabis, and most believe that it should be completely legal. According to Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin: 

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