Does WinCo Foods Drug Test?

Drug Testing by Position

Drug Test Type and Process

WinCo Foods builds drug testing directly into its hiring flow. Once you clear the interview and WinCo decides to hire you, the offer is made contingent on passing a drug screen. The hiring manager tells you about the requirement, and you are sent to a designated third-party collection site — typically for a standard urine test — at a specific date and time before your first shift. The screen generally covers marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, and PCP. WinCo covers the lab's fee, though as the Ninth Circuit clarified in Johnson v. WinCo Foods, the company is not required to pay you for the time or travel to complete a pre-employment test since you are not yet an employee. Warehouse and distribution positions, which involve forklifts and heavy equipment, may face stricter and ongoing testing than store-level roles.

Marijuana Policy

WinCo has historically included marijuana in its pre-employment drug panel, and because testing is a standard condition of hire, a positive THC result can cost you the job offer. WinCo operates primarily in western states — including Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, and Montana — where recreational and medical cannabis laws differ widely. Even in states that have legalized recreational marijuana, private employers like WinCo may still enforce a drug-free workplace and test for THC, subject to specific state protections such as those emerging in Washington and California that limit off-duty marijuana discrimination. Because these state laws are evolving, the safest assumption for an applicant is that marijuana is still screened. If you have a medical cannabis card or live in a state with off-duty use protections, ask the hiring manager how those rules apply before your test.

Tips for Applicants

Go into WinCo's hiring process expecting a drug test, and plan accordingly — if you know a screen is coming after your conditional offer, give yourself enough lead time to test clean. WinCo is an employee-owned company that promotes from within and offers an employee stock ownership plan, so entry-level cashier and stocker jobs can be a strong long-term opportunity worth preparing for. Be reliable and punctual for both the interview and the scheduled test; missing or delaying the screen can stall your start date. WinCo does consider applicants with criminal records, reviewing the offense and its relevance to the role, so be honest about your history. Apply through WinCo's official careers site or in person at a store. If you are pursuing a warehouse or driving role, be ready for potential random testing during employment, not just at hire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does WinCo Foods drug test new employees?

Yes. WinCo requires a pre-employment drug test as a condition of hire. After extending a conditional job offer, the hiring manager tells the applicant to report to a testing facility at a scheduled time before starting work. This applies to store roles like cashier and stocker as well as warehouse positions.

Does WinCo drug test for weed?

WinCo has historically included marijuana in its pre-employment panel, so a positive THC result can cost you the offer. Even in states with legal recreational cannabis, WinCo may still test, though evolving off-duty-use protections in states like Washington and California could affect how results are treated. Assume THC is screened unless told otherwise.

What kind of drug test does WinCo use?

WinCo uses a standard urine test collected at a designated third-party facility, generally a 5-panel screen for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, and PCP. WinCo pays the lab's fee but, per Johnson v. WinCo Foods, is not required to pay applicants for the time or travel to complete it.

Does WinCo drug test cashiers?

Yes. WinCo's pre-employment drug test applies to store-level roles, including cashiers and courtesy clerks, not just warehouse jobs. The screen is arranged after you receive a conditional job offer and must be passed before you begin working.

Does WinCo do random drug tests?

Store employees are primarily tested at hire and for reasonable suspicion or after accidents. Warehouse, distribution, and driving roles — which involve forklifts and heavy equipment — are more likely to face random testing during employment because of their safety-sensitive nature.

Does WinCo hire felons?

WinCo does consider applicants with criminal records. It reviews each application individually, weighing the nature and recency of the offense and its relevance to the job. A record is not an automatic bar, but you will still need to pass the standard pre-employment drug test.