More zero-tolerance bullshit: medical marijuana edition

New logo, same old nonsense

It’s not just schoolchildren who are at the mercy of idiotic and mindless “zero-tolerance” policies; plenty of adults have to deal with them, too, such as making sure not to bring a nail filer into the wrong place lest you be arrested for possession of a lethal weapon (or whatever they can stick you with). Naturally, these ridiculous no-nonsense, no-mercy, no-judgment and no-brains rules also extend to drugs – even the legal kinds. Which brings us to the story of Joseph Casias, a now ex-Walmart employee who was abruptly terminated for testing positive for medical marijuana – despite using it on his doctor’s recommendation. To fight his cancer.

Despite medical marijuana being legal in Michigan, WalMart has fired a cancer patient and former employee of the year who tested positive for the drug, which was recommended by his doctor.

"I was terminated because I failed a drug screening," ex-WalMart employee Joseph Casias told WZZM-13.

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

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

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

Casias said he went to work every day during his five years at WalMart. "I gave them everything," he said. "One hundred and ten percent every day. Anything they asked me to do, I did. More than they asked me to do. Twelve to 14 hours a day."

Then Casias sprained his knee at work last November. During the routine drug screening that follows all workplace injuries, marijuana was detected in his system.

Casias showed WalMart managers his Michigan medical marijuana card, but was fired anyway.

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

What bullshit. How can it possibly be legal for a company to terminate an employee for using a legal substance in a perfectly legit and regulated manner? Their policy is completely arbitrary; by their logic, I could decree that, if I had any employees, I could fire them on-the-spot for smoking, or using Tylenol. There’s absolutely no difference: legal substances used in legal manners.

Of course, don’t expect Walmart to take any responsibility for their unfair treatment of Casias – in fact, they’re just trying to make things even worse:

"In states such as Michigan, where prescriptions for marijuana can be obtained, an employer can still enforce a policy that requires termination of employment following a positive drug screen," said WalMart spokesman Greg Rossiter from company headquarters.

"We believe our policy complies with the law, and we support decisions based on the policy," Rossiter said.

Casias has been collecting unemployment compensation since getting sacked in November, but this week he said he was notified that now WalMart is even challenging his eligibility for benefits.

So, you fire a guy for no good reason, your rationalization being a stupid and blindly-enforced policy, and then try and cut him off completely. As Casias wasn’t in enough trouble already.

Assholes.

(via The Agitator)