Although many states have legalized the use of medical marijuana, under federal law any use of marijuana is illegal. This situation has caused problems for many employers that have strict drug use policies. The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that employees who use medical marijuana are not protected by the state's "lawful activities statute" and can be fired, resolving the issue for employers in that state. [Coats v. Dish Network]
The employee in this case, Brandon Coats, is a quadriplegic who has been confined to a wheelchair since he was a teenager. In 2009 he registered for and obtained a state-issued license to use medical marijuana to treat painful muscle spasms caused by his quadriplegia. Coats consumes medical marijuana at home, after work, and in compliance with his license and Colorado state law.
[Related: Marijuana: An emerging coverage risk]
Want to continue reading?
Become a Free PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader
Your access to unlimited PropertyCasualty360 content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- All PropertyCasualty360.com news coverage, best practices, and in-depth analysis.
- Educational webcasts, resources from industry leaders, and informative newsletters.
- Other award-winning websites including BenefitsPRO.com and ThinkAdvisor.com.
Already have an account? Sign In
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.