Amazon is ramping up its pro - weed run , announcing on Tuesday that it is actively lobbying for legislative reform aimed at decriminalization and reaffirming its consignment to not screening job applicants for hemp .
Beth Galetti , Amazon ’s senior vice president of human resources , declared in ablog postthe company ’s backing for two pieces of legislation target at decriminalizing hemp nationwide . The move come amid expanding legalizationat the Department of State level , with 36 land allow some grade of public access to cannabis and 18 states plus Washington , DC , legalize unpaid grownup purpose .
The first is theMarijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2021(MORE Act ) , introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler , which would remove cannabis from the federal government ’s list of controlled heart and soul , in effect decriminalizing it at the federal level . The placard alsoseeks tocreate new investing programs for communities that have been disproportionately affect by ganja - related incarceration and policing , while also seek to expunge relevant criminal records . The bill was antecedently introduced andpassed the Houselast class in a historical balloting before finally shillyshally in the then Republican - controlled Senate . Nadler reintroduced the bank note in May , sum some modifications .
Photo: THOMAS SAMSON/AFP (Getty Images)
The other project jurisprudence that Amazon is supporting is theCannabis Administration and Opportunity Act — a bill preface by prominent Democrats , including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer , as well as Sens . Cory Booker and Ron Wyden . The legislation would likewise seek tolegalize and regulateweed , while also provide funds to state regime to be used in expunging reprehensible records related to marijuana - related convictions at the state level .
Amazon , which employs 950,000 people in the U.S. , say that it supports these proposed bills for a number of reasonableness — one of which is the indefensible patchwork of DoS police and fact that pre - employment examination for marijuana “ disproportionately impacts people of people of colour . ” The company also note that its continual pursuit of “ great new squad member ” means that getting rid of pre - employment testing for hemp let them to hire from a larger pool of hoi polloi .
“ We are enthused by the notable impulse in the country toward recognizing that today ’s condition quo is unjust and untenable . We expect forward to work with Congress and other supporters to secure necessary reform of the nation ’s cannabis law , ” Galettiwrote .
Amazon ’s stance on cannabis use among its rank begin to change at least a few months ago . In June , reportsemergedthat the company was ditching its pre - employment examination for the intoxicating plant for positions ( with the exception of those regulated by the Department of Transportation , such as truck driver and positions that command expectant machinery operation ) , while also encouraging the contract deliverance troupe that operate its fleet of blue van to make it screw that they would n’t screen for mourning band .
This is an interesting turn for Amazon — which has proven itself to be a dread employer inmanyotherways . On that eminence , it ’s also deserving remembering that everybody — fromElon Muskto theunfortunate X - governor of New York — knows that act alright with weed is a surefire manner to make yourself look cool and engender goodwill sincemost peopleknow that prohibitions on it are just regressive draconian bullshit .
We reached out to Amazon for comment on its recent indorsement of this legislation . We also inquired as to whether the fellowship contrive on investing in any cannabis - refer business speculation in the future . We will update this story if they respond .
AmazonChuck SchumerDrugskamala harrisPolitics
Daily Newsletter
Get the honorable tech , scientific discipline , and culture news in your inbox daily .
News from the futurity , render to your present .
You May Also Like
