While ending criminal penalties for marijuana is a monumental step in the right direction, employment rights is likely the next step for true equality. Having the freedom to utilize cannabis without fear of prosecution and arrest is only one step in the process when the cannabis community can still be fired, even when the use is medical and had no impact upon their job performance. Colorado’s Supreme Court is expected to release an important decision on Monday. KUSA-TV reports:
Brandon Coats maintains he was improperly fired from his job at Dish Network in 2010 after testing positive for marijuana. Coats, a quadriplegic, worked as a customer service representative for the company for years.
Lower courts have repeatedly ruled in Dish Network’s favor, but last year the Colorado Supreme Court agreed to hear his case. The decision could impact businesses across the state as they continue to employ not only medical marijuana users but recreational users as well.
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The lawsuit was filed before the passage of Amendment 64, which legalized the limited use of recreational marijuana for people over the age of 21. Legal observers say Monday’s decision could very well provide some guidance on the recreational side as well.
Here’s hoping that the Colorado Supreme Court will recognize the medical marijuana use of a patient utilizing a safe medicine legally under state law. It is a shame that inactive metabolites that don’t have any effect on one’s job performance can end someone’s career. Once medical use is accepted, then we need to take on adult use as well as it is nonsensical that employees can drink alcohol, a more addictive and deadly drug, but cannot use cannabis. Surely, we don’t want to push employees to use a more dangerous drug, but that is exactly what these antiquated policies do.
Anthony Johnson
Anthony, a longtime cannabis law reform advocate, was Chief Petitioner and co-author of Measure 91, Oregon's cannabis legalization effort. He served as director of both the New Approach Oregon and Vote Yes on 91 PACs, the political action committees responsible for the state's legalization campaign. As director of New Approach Oregon, Anthony continues to work towards effectively implementing the cannabis legalization system while protecting small business owners and the rights of patients. He sits on the Oregon Marijuana Rules Advisory Committee and fights for sensible rules at the legislature as well as city councils and county commissions across the state. Anthony helps cannabis business comply with Oregon's laws and advises advocates across the country. He also serves as content director of both the International Cannabis Business Conference and the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference, helping share the vision of moving the cannabis industry forward in a way that maintains the focus on keeping people out of prison and protecting patients. He was a member of the Oregon Health Authority Rules Advisory Committee, assisting the drafting of the administrative rules governing Oregon’s state-licensed medical marijuana facilities. He first co-authored and helped pass successful marijuana law reform measures while a law student at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He passed the Oregon Bar in 2005 and practiced criminal defense for two years before transitioning to working full-time in the political advocacy realm. His blogs on Marijuana Politics are personal in nature and don't speak for or reflect the opinions of any group or organization.
