As Desperation Grows, Employers Grow More Lenient
05/05/2023
As attitudes towards drug use in the United States change and marijuana becomes increasingly legalized, the federal government has had to adjust its qualification standards for new employees.
Although it once banned illegal drug use from the federal workforce and required pre-employment drug tests, current trends suggest employers are moving away from this practice. This shift is a reflection of both changing attitudes toward drug use as well as a recognition of the fact that pre-employment drug tests disproportionately affect people of color and can act as an obstacle to employment.
The federal government’s efforts to combat illegal drugs began during the Vietnam War when it became clear that heroin and marijuana had become widespread among service members. President Ronald Reagan responded with the “Just Say No” campaign and an executive order formally prohibiting federal workers from using drugs.
This set off a wave of drug testing in private and public sector workplaces throughout the 1980s and 1990s, but by 2021 only 16% of private employers were drug testing their employees. Meanwhile, some large companies like Apple and Amazon have even phased out drug testing altogether.
The decision to move away from drug tests is a recognition of the fact that pre-employment drug testing tends to disproportionately affect people of color and can be an unfair barrier to employment. This means that those with criminal records related to marijuana use are more likely to miss out on opportunities for employment in the federal sector. It also speaks to a larger shift in how society views drug use, as marijuana becomes increasingly decriminalized and accepted by members of the public.
The shift towards more lenient policies on pre-employment drug testing is an important one that offers greater opportunities to those who have been unfairly impacted by past laws and regulations. It also speaks to the changing attitudes toward drug use in the United States and is an encouraging sign of progress.
Reference
Although it once banned illegal drug use from the federal workforce and required pre-employment drug tests, current trends suggest employers are moving away from this practice. This shift is a reflection of both changing attitudes toward drug use as well as a recognition of the fact that pre-employment drug tests disproportionately affect people of color and can act as an obstacle to employment.
The federal government’s efforts to combat illegal drugs began during the Vietnam War when it became clear that heroin and marijuana had become widespread among service members. President Ronald Reagan responded with the “Just Say No” campaign and an executive order formally prohibiting federal workers from using drugs.
This set off a wave of drug testing in private and public sector workplaces throughout the 1980s and 1990s, but by 2021 only 16% of private employers were drug testing their employees. Meanwhile, some large companies like Apple and Amazon have even phased out drug testing altogether.
The decision to move away from drug tests is a recognition of the fact that pre-employment drug testing tends to disproportionately affect people of color and can be an unfair barrier to employment. This means that those with criminal records related to marijuana use are more likely to miss out on opportunities for employment in the federal sector. It also speaks to a larger shift in how society views drug use, as marijuana becomes increasingly decriminalized and accepted by members of the public.
The shift towards more lenient policies on pre-employment drug testing is an important one that offers greater opportunities to those who have been unfairly impacted by past laws and regulations. It also speaks to the changing attitudes toward drug use in the United States and is an encouraging sign of progress.
Reference