AutoNation Looks Other Way When Applicants Test Positive for Pot

The largest U.S. auto-dealer chain has lightened up on lighting up.

AutoNation Inc. no longer refuses to hire job applicants who test positive for marijuana in drug screenings, Chief Executive Officer Mike Jackson said in an interview. The shift, which Jackson said was made quietly two years ago, shows that corporate America’s hiring practices are evolving along with pot’s legal status.

“If you tested positive for marijuana, you couldn’t join our company,” said Jackson, 68. “At a certain point, we said, ‘You know what? That’s wrong.’”

AutoNation will still bar anyone who tests positive for other illegal drugs, including cocaine, ...