Stop Walmart From Firing Cancer Patients Who Use Medical Marijuana

by Matt Kelley · 2010-03-17 07:08:00 UTC
Topics:

Fourteen U.S. states allow residents to legally obtain prescriptions for medicinal marijuana to alleviate pain and treat other symptoms. But watch the fine print -- you might be following the law, but you could still lose your job.

Walmart, the nation's largest private employer, is among the many companies that will still fire an employee who fails a drug test, even when the person has permission from a doctor (and the state!) to use medicinal marijuana. And now in Michigan, one Walmart employee, Joseph Casias -- who uses medicinal marijuana to treat pain from sinus cancer and a brain tumor -- has become the latest victim of the company's backwards policy.

Join hundreds of Change.org activists today in calling on Walmart to stop firing cancer patients for using the medicine doctors prescribe.

Casias, the 2008 Associate of the Year at his Michigan Walmart store, said he felt betrayed by an employer for which he worked so hard for five years. "No, I never came to work under the influence, never," he told WZZM TV. "I don't think it's fair. Because I have a medical condition I can't work and provide for my family?"

But Walmart is sticking to its guns. Asked whether it was official Walmart policy to fire cancer patients who test positive for legal medicinal marijuana, a company spokesman said it sure is. "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. We believe our policy complies with the law and we support decisions based on the policy," a Walmart spokesman wrote in an email to WZZM.

That's cold.

The use of medicinal marijuana to treat pain, diminished appetite and other symptoms has been gaining support worldwide for years, but only recently has it begun to gain widespread, mainstream approval. After holding out for years in the face of undeniable evidence, the American Medical Associationchanged its position in November to recommend that Congress classify pot as a drug with possible medical benefits.

More states will soon follow the 14 that currently allow the use of medicinal marijuana in some cases. Those states will have to begin addressing the reluctance of employers to support the treatment of their employees.

In the meantime, employers have the chance to get ahead of the game with a sensible, compassionate policy -- or they can follow Walmart's lead, and keep punishing the law-abiding cancer patients on their payrolls.

Take a minute today and tell Walmart it's making a mistake to fire Joseph Casias and countless other sick employees for following a doctor's advice.

Photo Credit: Walmart

Matt Kelley is the Online Communications Manager at the Innocence Project and a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Follow him on Twitter @mattjkelley.
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