CA Supreme Court: Employers Can Fire Workers For Using Medical Marijuana

By PAUL ELIAS Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO(AP) – Employers can fire workers found to have used medical marijuana that was legally prescribed, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

The high court upheld a Sacramento telecommunications company’s firing of a man who flunked a company-ordered drug test.

Gary Ross held a medical marijuana card authorizing him to legally use marijuana to treat a back injury sustained while serving in the Air Force.

The company, Ragingwire Inc., successfully argued that it rightfully fired Ross because all marijuana use is illegal under federal law, which does not recognize the medical marijuana laws in California and 11 other states.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)