Important Federal Medical Marijuana Ruling

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Thought from the editor:  In this country, if you want to work, potential employees have to pass a drug test, but if you want to collect welfare, unemployment or housing assistance, just sign on up….WTF?!…..

Wal-Mart employee fired for medical pot loses case

Fri Feb 11, 2011 11:51pm EST

Reporting by Clare Baldwin, additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel; Editing by Ron Popeski)

“State pot law does not regulate private employers” -judge

* Wal-Mart justified in firing employee for positive test

(Reuters) – A federal judge in Michigan on Friday upheld Wal-Mart Stores Inc’s dismissal of an employee for testing positive for marijuana, even though he was using the drug under the state’s medical marijuana law.

Judge Robert Jonker wrote that while the state law was meant to provide some limited protection for medical marijuana users from state arrest and prosecution, it does not regulate private employers.

Former Wal-Mart employee Joseph Casias said he was using the marijuana to treat pain from an inoperable brain tumor and sinus cancer, and was doing so legally, with a medical marijuana registry card.

After twisting his knee at work, Casias submitted to a drug test, administered under a Wal-Mart policy requiring tests for all employees injured on the job. When he tested positive, he was fired.

Casias worked at a Wal-Mart store in Battle Creek, Michigan from 2004 to 2009. (Reporting by Clare Baldwin, additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel; Editing by Ron Popeski)

1 COMMENT

  1. praise to wal-mart for taking a stand…..their system works….a standardized controlled system with a working pharmacy for actual patients……..if they sway from their stance, pot will be available in target, walgreens, and 7-11…..

  2. Although it would be nice to pick up meds and paper towels at target at the same time, we in the community must take a stance on this! What a terrible idea. Making a medicine from the earth as dangerous as all of the other medical concoctions.

  3. ban wal mart? an institution in this country that brings in tax revenue and legitimate dollars? great idea…..maybe we can turn the building into compassion center right? more companies should take a page from their book and drug test their employees…….

  4. WalMart… an institution that destroys small businesses across the nation. Yeah you’re right, this store has done great for our country.

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