Walmart Fires Cancer Patient for Legally Using Medical Marijuana

[Breaking News Breaking News]

by Mike Meno

Joseph Casias, 29, has sinus cancer and an inoperable brain tumor.

Despite his condition, he has dutifully gone to work every day for the last five years at a Walmart in Battle Creek, Michigan, where in 2008 he was named Associate of the Year.

Casias is also a legal medical marijuana patient under Michigan state law. He uses marijuana with the recommendation of his doctor to relieve the effects of cancer.

But Walmart, the world’s largest public corporation, has no sympathy for his condition or regard for Michigan’s state law. Last November, Walmart fired Casias because he tested positive for marijuana during a routine drug screening.

Here’s what a Walmart spokesman had to say:

    “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.”

To add insult to injury, Walmart is now challenging Casias’ eligibility for unemployment. Simply outrageous. This is the thanks he gets for showing up to work and doing his job for the last five years, despite being stricken with a life-threatening illness. “I gave them everything,” Casias told a local news outlet. “One-hundred-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.”

Sadly, the dilemma facing medical marijuana patients who still have no legal protection from being fired is nothing new.

http://blog.mpp.org/medical-marijuana/wa.../03122010/

[Tyson]

nothing new, yeah. but it has to stop

[Richard]

Yeah it's stupid. Employers complain all the time that good employees are hard to find and here Walmart fires a employee that was named Associate of the Year just because he uses marijuana to treat a medical condition. They're going to lose a lot customers over this because people are already protesting in front of Walmart.


Submitted by Greg Francisco on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 17:08

Well, I suppose chat might be generous. More like we sent our message. "Mess with one of us and you'll have to answer to the rest." I guess Wal-Mart.

Over 100 hardy souls turned out this afternoon to demonstrate out side the Battle Creek Wal-Mart in support of cancer patient and registered patient, Joseph was fired from his job at Wal-Mart after testing positive for marijuana.

Three different television stations sent reporters. Joe was interviewed by all 3 and they appeared quite sympathetic. We were strung along a busy road, at the entrance to the store lot. Lots and lots of honking horns from passing cars.

The local police dept swung by, just to make sure we followed the rules. Very professional, very cordial officer. Told me, before I had a chance to say much of anything," you have the right to put your message out there. Just want to make sure you follow the law."

This story has legs. CNN has picked it up and it's a good shot others will pick it up, too.

thanks to all who turned out today and thanks to all who will support this man and his family.

http://www.michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/node/17418