Home Depot, one of the largest employers in the United States, is shifting its employee drug testing policies to remove cannabis from screening panels entirely and stop pre-employment drug testing of most of its workers, according to a new document obtained by Marijuana Moment.
The planned changes are set to take effect on September 1 and were sent out in a human resources memo this week, which says that “Marijuana will be removed from all drug panels” in the U.S.—including from tests following a workplace accident and in cases where there’s reasonable suspicion an employee was impaired.
More broadly, the memo says that pre-employment drug testing going forward “will only be conducted for external candidates with contingent offers in Asset Protection and Corporate Security.”
The policy changes do not apply to employees regulated through the federal Department of Transportation.
Home Depot initially replied to Marijuana Moment’s requests for comment on Monday by saying the company was looking into the changes, which were first described publicly in a Reddit post. Beth Marlowe in the corporate communications department said the company doesn’t typically comment on internet rumors.
Marlowe did not immediately respond to multiple follow-up calls and emails on Tuesday attempting to verify the new HR document that Marijuana Moment later obtained.
The memo says that “Home Depot continually evaluates our policies, the external environment, and benchmarks with other companies to ensure we remain competitive while complying with local, state, and federal laws.”
Word of the policy change first spread following a Reddit a post Monday in the forum r/HomeDepot. A user said they were told of the new protocol during a morning meeting that day.
The user wrote they were told “that on Sept 1st, marijuana will no longer be tested for; this will include reasonable suspicion. Also, lift equipment drug testing will go away too.”
The subreddit r/HomeDepot describes itself as a “hangout for Home Depot associates.”
When the policy takes effect, Home Depot will be one of the largest private companies ever to cease marijuana screening of its employees. The company says it employs more than 400,000 associates in more than 2,000 stores across the U.S., putting it among the top employers in the country.
Several other users commented on the Reddit post indicating that they were also Home Depot employees who have heard similar announcements at work this week.
Read more at Marijuana Moment