For many patients around the nation like Joseph Casias, medical marijuana is a very inportant part of his life for fighting cancer. Casias has been working for Wal-Mart for the past 5 years and was awarded in 2008 for Accociate of the year. But in November 2009, he was fired after testing positive for marijuana, which he was legally able to take for treament of his nasal cancer. Even though laws defending the right for medical marijuana users to legally use the drug, the laws don't protect them from employment decisions to fire the workers. This is where the users are complaining and fighting for a new law which protects them from losing their jobs due to a failed drug test. Casias told CNN that he never went to work high, and that he always tried his best while working for Wal-Mart. Some attorneys say that every situation like this can be made into a discrimination suit. Just in Califonia alone, 37,000 medical marijuana cards have be issued since 2004 according to the Department of Community Health. This set back for Joseph has put him jobless and in debt up to 10,000 with medical bills. He has a family to support and he tells CNN reporter, "I just want my job back." Lawsuits against employers has been on the rise with similar cases. For example, the case with Mike Babbitt. A former Loaf-N-Jug employee, is sueing the company for $500,000, after being fired from the company. He had told the company while being interviewed for the job that he carried a medical marijuana card, and they said it was not a problem.
I could see where Wal-Mart was sticking to thier code of conduct, but if the employee was in Joseph's situation where he was able to use marijuana legally, then they should have tried to work something out. If he was preforming fine and no issue regarding problem with accociates and customers were even made against Josheph, then I dont see why he would have to be fired. He obviously was doing a good job, getting the Accociate of the year in 2008.
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This is crazy! It never crossed my mind about people using medicinal marijuana and their jobs. I think it is not fair at all that people will get fired from their jobs and have their marijuana card. I agree with what you say where if he was doing a good job and had not complaints from co-workers or the customers, there should not be a problem.
ReplyDeleteThis is not right! I never thought a person would get fired for the use of marijuana. The guy that worked at Wal Mart was a good guy and even got an award for his work. I think they should hire him back, becaues the worker at Loaf-n-Jug didn't get fired and he even had a record of marijuana use. I can see why Wal Mart would do that, because they are a well known store, but still give the guy a break and get him back on duty.
ReplyDeleteYea this is ridiculous! i mean if he was the assocaite of the year in 2008! He should have not been fired, if he was that good of an employee they wouldnt of let him go. Not to bash walmart but im sure their are people that work thier arnt as good as of an employee as him. With joseph he he told them he had a medical card for marijuana, they shuls have fired him and i hope he does get his money, thier is no reason for him to get fired if he told them about it in his interview.
ReplyDeleteThat is really cool. It looks like you have to be pretty technology smart to operate one. So my mom probably wouldn’t be able to run one. Technology today is so advanced. Next thing before you know it we will have robots in our homes to do everything. Like this a new and better piece of technology will come out and this won't be the best thing. It will make the driving and text a lot easier and safer. Today most young people rather text than talk on the phone.
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