Walmart fires Michigan man for using medical marijuana - video

[Bozita]

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=119421&catid=14

Walmart fires Michigan man for using medical marijuana
Phil Dawson Christa Graban
Updated:3/12/2010 10:48:45 AM - Posted: 3/11/2010 10:55:38 PM


BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WZZM) - Now that medical marijuana is legal in Michigan, can an employer fire a worker who tests positive for the drug?

WalMart says it can, so it did. "I was terminated because I failed a drug screening," says former WalMart employee Joseph Casias.

In 2008, Casias was the Associate Of The Year at the WalMart store in Battle Creek, despite suffering from sinus cancer and an inoperable brain tumor.

At his doctor's recommendation, Casias says he legally uses medical marijuana to ease his pain.

"It helps tremendously," he says. "I only use it to stop the pain. To make me feel more comfortable and active as a person."

During his five years at WalMart, Casias says he went to work every day, determined to be the best.

"I gave them everything," he says. "110 percent every day. Anything they asked me to do I did. More than they asked me to do. 12 to 14 hours a day."

But last November, Casias sprained his knee at work. Marijuana was detected in his system during the routine drug screening that follows all workplace injuries. Casias showed WalMart managers his state medical marijuana card, but he was fired anyway.

"I was told they do not accept or honor my medical marijuana card," says Casias.

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[DeSwiss]

1. Sue the BASTARDS!!! - K&R!!! n/t

[conscious evolution]

2. So employers can decide what medical treatments we can use now?

I hope he sues using the ADA as basis for wrongful termination.

[Bozita]

4. Yup. Insurance companies AND employer stand between doctor and patient.

[scorpiogirl]

6. They certainly try

My husband got hired for a job, being told initially that they did not have a problem with his MJ patient status. Come to find out, this company was a subsidiary of a huge company that had government contracts and so even though he's in CA, they weren't ok with it and asked him to find another medication for his pain. Sound rather intrusive? I think so. They kind of let it drop, but then laid him off six weeks later. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why.

He has been up front with the last couple of companies, but now he just keeps his mouth shut. We've found honestly does not pay, literally in the job market. He still doesn't have a job.

[ooglymoogly]

3. Wallmart is the cancer that is metastasizing

all over our country at deadly speed.

[scorpiogirl]

5. This is a big problem for these patients

From personal experience, it seems these companies could care less about state law. We are in CA and my husband has run into this issue in trying to get a job, even though he has a doctor's recommendation. It seems like a violation of rights period. They're not allowed to discriminate against people for the usually reasons, but discriminate against patients on a regular basis. I think the law needs to catch up to protect people so they have to deal with this. Also it seems like MJ patients aren't entitled to use their medication as other patients use their pharmaceuticals. For some reason, even the legal use becomes everyone's business.

[indepat]

7. To say Walmart's corporate culture and practices are obscenely abhorrent would be a vast

understatement of their dispicability and show a lack of understanding as to how vile they really are. :P