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A Dish employee who is a valid MMJ patient lost his job because of a random drug test. He knew he would fail, so he took his doctor prescribed MMJ card to the HR department. It took them a few weeks to decide, but ultimately they decided to fire him.
He sued, because in Colorado employees are protected by a law that states that employees cannot be punished for anything they do on their off time as long as it is legal. Even though medical marijuana is legal in Colorado, the court ruled that "legal" means both state AND federal.
This ruling, as usual, has nothing to do with the plant or its merits.
So this guy lost his job because of federal prohibition, not because he wasn't a good employee, not because there were any problems at all, in fact. He was simply picked for a random drug test.
He is a quadriplegic, and he is a valid medical marijuana patient. But somehow our famous and "friendly" notmeofficer sees this as some sort of victory.
On one hand I support the rights of the employer to hire or fire anyone for any reason. On the other, many employers have become wanna-be dictators in prying into the private lives of their employees and limiting their choices. A lot of this has to do with insurance companies (after all they hold all the cards when you think about it) and the fact their are too many lawyers (we've become quite a sue-happy society). Do I think it is absolutely douchebaggery on the part of DISH? ABSOLUTELY! In fact... I may be even more inclined to cancel my subscription with them, given that they threw this guy under the bus! I suppose if he was taking legalized prescribed opiates then that would be OK, huh?!!
On another note, my wife works as a recruiter for a hospital system here. I've heard her interview candidates when she works from home, and I've had the day off, and I absolutely CRINGE when she tells would be candidates that they have to take a test for niccotine, which IS legal to purchase! Whatever happened to give and take? The gall of some of these employers who feel they need to control their employees, or tell me what I can and cannot do on MY TIME!!!! Hey, I'm cool with not doing things you don't want me to do on your time, or even on your company's property! I respect that! But what I do in my own house, on my own damn time, when I haven't harmed another, is not your GOD DAMNED BUSINESS! In short, I'm glad I work for a company that doesn't pry into our personal lives!
I agree with the others. We are becoming sheeples who are being controlled and monitored, even on our off hours! I remember learning about this guy, when I lived in CO. I think it is disgusting that a person can get hooked on pain killers and that is not a problem, if it is a legal substance under the FDA, but yet a person who uses a plant, is considered a ****ing criminal. Too much insanity. I know in AZ they have a law that is supposed to also protect to the employee from firing. I mean, come on, just stop the insanity.
... So this guy lost his job because of federal prohibition, not because he wasn't a good employee, not because there were any problems at all, in fact. He was simply picked for a random drug test.
Or maybe the employer just wanted this guy gone for one reason or another and they used the MMJ as a reason/excuse. Or maybe he wasn't such a good employee after all. We will never know for sure.
Or maybe the employer just wanted this guy gone for one reason or another and they used the MMJ as a reason/excuse. Or maybe he wasn't such a good employee after all. We will never know for sure.
That's unlikely. I'm not sure why Dish would choose such a controversial way to get rid of someone when there are hundreds of less visible ways to do it. This way was so controversial, in fact, that it wound up with a lawsuit that got pushed all the way to the state Supreme Court.
Dish admits there was no drug use by this employee while he was on the job. They do admit, however, that he is a victim of their zero tolerance drug policy.
I agree with the others. We are becoming sheeples who are being controlled and monitored, even on our off hours! I remember learning about this guy, when I lived in CO. I think it is disgusting that a person can get hooked on pain killers and that is not a problem, if it is a legal substance under the FDA, but yet a person who uses a plant, is considered a ****ing criminal. Too much insanity. I know in AZ they have a law that is supposed to also protect to the employee from firing. I mean, come on, just stop the insanity.
IIRC the law just says you get unemployment if fired for MMJ...
Needless to say I disagree with the SCOTUS on this one, and I've never even tried marijuana. I support medical MJ 100%. I even support legalizing it for recreational use. Legalize it and tax it!
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