Michigan Man Fired From Wal-Mart For Medical Marijuana Prescription

Maybe I'm a little desensitized from living in a city where just last fall we reportedly had more medical marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks but firing a man for a legitimate marijuana prescription to deal with the pain of his brain tumor seems a little harsh to me. This isn't some bro that went to Venice and ranted about headaches to some "doctor" off the boardwalk. This man was legitimately in need of pain medication yet Wal-Mart found that completely unacceptable.

Joseph Casias might just feel like a dope for doping -- even though it was legal.

The Michigan father of two sued Walmart this week for firing him after he tested positive for marijuana -- which he was using to alleviate pain from a brain tumor and sinus cancer.

Casias, 30, was canned late last year after five years on the job in
Battle Creek.

According to the complaint, Casias tested positive for marijuana in a drug test administered after he injured his knee at work, under a Walmart policy that requires employees injured on the job to take the test.

Casias, who won an associate of the year award at the store in 2008, has been using marijuana on his oncologist's advice after Michigan voters passed a law approving the drug's medical use in 2008.

"Joseph is an example of a patient for whom marijuana has had a life-changing positive effect," the complaint states.

A Walmart spokesman said he sympathized with Casias, but defended the dismissal.

"Like other companies, we have to consider the overall safety of our customers and our associates, including Mr. Casias, when making a difficult decision like this," said
Greg Rossiter.

- NY Daily Mail

I understand that Wal-Mart wants to protect its customers but just because Casias tested positive on a drug test does not mean he was showing up to work stoned. It just means at some point in time near the test he was using, probably in the comfort of his own home. Even though if he did come to work high, I doubt the "safety" of customers would be at risk, maybe the productivity or the outgoingness of the employee but c'mon. We're not living in Reefer Madness and I think it's safe to say we know people who smoke pot do not go out and harm people. Maybe eat an entire bag of chips, sure. But unless he was operating heavy machinery in the store, I don't see how he would really be a safety concern. If he was showing up to work stoned and being inappropriate or not fulfilling his duties, then that would be a different story but seeing he was an associate of the year, I just don't see that being the case.

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