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Medical Marijuana Hiring & Firing Employment Litigation

Medical Marijuana refers to the use of marijuana to treat or alleviate symptoms of certain illnesses. A growing number of states permit individuals to use marijuana on the recommendation of a physician. Despite... more +
Medical Marijuana refers to the use of marijuana to treat or alleviate symptoms of certain illnesses. A growing number of states permit individuals to use marijuana on the recommendation of a physician. Despite state laws to the contrary, Federal law still prohibits the use or possession of marijuana. The conflict between state and federal law on this issue has created interesting enforcement issues and significant legal hurdles for medical marijuana providers.  less -
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Card-Holder Survives Employer’s Motion to Dismiss

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A recent opinion from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania serves a win to a medical marijuana card-holder who brought claims against an employer under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Pennsylvania Medical...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Federal Judge in Pennsylvania Reverses Dismissal of Medical Marijuana Cardholder’s Disability Discrimination Claim

On April 11, 2025, a federal judge for the U.S. Western District of Pennsylvania reversed his recent decision to dismiss a disability discrimination claim from a job applicant with a medical marijuana card who alleged he had...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Pennsylvania Federal Court Follows State Ruling That Medical Marijuana Use Is Not a Disability Under State Law

A Pennsylvania federal court recently ruled that a job applicant who had a job offer rescinded could not allege disability discrimination under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) for medical marijuana use as a matter...more

Snell & Wilmer

Toking the Line: Where Medical Marijuana Meets Employment Law

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The use of cannabis for medical purposes is legal in 39 states, four out of five permanently inhabited U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. Some studies suggest that medical cannabis may help treat various...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

The Best of Intentions: State Law Protections for Employee Cannabis Use May Not Protect Them After All

While not enough blogs these days quote Toad the Wet Sprocket lyrics, a recent decision from a federal appellate court holding that a would-be employee can suffer negative employment consequences for cannabis use even when...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Connecticut Appellate Court Rules Employer Could Discharge Medical Marijuana User Impaired on the Job

On March 19, 2024, the Connecticut Appellate Court upheld an employer’s right to discharge an employee for being impaired on the job from medical marijuana under a state law that provides employment protections for qualified...more

Littler

Connecticut Employers Can Terminate Employees Impaired by Medical Marijuana While Working; Appellate Court Also Provides Guidance...

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In a significant decision about workplace drug use, the Connecticut Appellate Court backed an employer’s right to terminate a worker who was impaired on the job by medical marijuana. The decision also clarified the factual...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Medical Marijuana Usage Is Not Protected Under the ADA, Vermont Federal Court Rules

On February 14, 2024, a judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont dismissed a plaintiff’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) discrimination and failure-to-accommodate case, holding that his medical...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

Employer Drug-Testing Policies Must Evolve With State Law

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While many individuals are excited about the proliferation of state laws providing for medical and recreational use of marijuana across the country, inconsistencies in these state laws have made it difficult for employers to...more

Woods Rogers

[Event] Back on Track: 42nd Annual Labor & Employment Seminars - October 27th, Roanoke, VA

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Building a better workplace requires endurance and determination. But when you manage people, it’s easy to get off track. Everyone needs a trainer who can help them keep their eyes on the prize: a workplace that is good for...more

Woods Rogers

[Event] Back on Track: 42nd Annual Labor & Employment Seminars - October 26th, Charlottesville, VA

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Building a better workplace requires endurance and determination. But when you manage people, it’s easy to get off track. Everyone needs a trainer who can help them keep their eyes on the prize: a workplace that is good for...more

Woods Rogers

[Event] Back on Track: 42nd Annual Labor & Employment Seminars - October 25th, Lynchburg, VA

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Building a better workplace requires endurance and determination. But when you manage people, it’s easy to get off track. Everyone needs a trainer who can help them keep their eyes on the prize: a workplace that is good for...more

Woods Rogers

[Hybrid Event] Back on Track: 42nd Annual Labor & Employment Seminars - October 19th, Richmond, VA

Woods Rogers on

Building a better workplace requires endurance and determination. But when you manage people, it’s easy to get off track. Everyone needs a trainer who can help them keep their eyes on the prize: a workplace that is good for...more

Woods Rogers

[Event] Back on Track: 42nd Annual Labor & Employment Seminars - October 18th, Norfolk, VA

Woods Rogers on

Building a better workplace requires endurance and determination. But when you manage people, it’s easy to get off track. Everyone needs a trainer who can help them keep their eyes on the prize: a workplace that is good for...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

But I Didn’t Inhale! Employee Drug Tests in a CBD World

Given the explosive growth of cannabis products and the increasing number of states that have legalized marijuana for medicinal or adult use (nearly 40 at last count), employers across the country are asking whether they can...more

Fisher Phillips

The Top 17 Workplace Law Stories from February 2022

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It’s hard to keep up with all the recent changes to labor and employment law. While the law always seems to evolve at a rapid pace, there have been an unprecedented number of changes for the past few years—and this past month...more

Littler

Pennsylvania Appeals Court Determines State’s Medical Marijuana Act Includes a Private Right of Action for Employees

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In a case of first impression, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania has determined that employees can sue their employers for claims under the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (MMA).  Palmiter v. Commonwealth Health Sys.,...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

Employees Can Pursue A Private Cause of Action Under PA’s Medical Marijuana Act

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On August 5, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania ruled, in a case of first impression, that the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (“MMA”) permits a private right of action for employees who claim that they were discriminated...more

White and Williams LLP

[Webinar] Lehigh Valley Labor & Employment Seminar - May 26th, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm EDT

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Presenters will provide recent legal developments, trends and cases that impact workplace practices and operations; issues related to Covid will be incorporated throughout the presentations. Programming will be presented in...more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

The Cannabis Conundrum: A Warning For Employers

While many states have legalized medical and recreational marijuana, marijuana remains an illegal controlled substance under federal law. As we have previously discussed, this has created a conundrum of sorts for employers...more

Littler

Rhode Island Supreme Court Upholds Dismissal of Driver Who Refused Reasonable Grounds Drug Test

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On May 29, 2020, the Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed a trial court’s dismissal of a lawsuit alleging a violation of the Rhode Island drug testing statute brought against an employer that terminated an employee for...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

NJ Supreme Court: Employees Can Challenge Termination Decisions Based on Off-Duty Medical Marijuana Use

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Last week, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that an employee who was fired after revealing that he used medical marijuana outside of work to treat his cancer has a basis to sue for disability discrimination under the New...more

FordHarrison

New Jersey's Supreme Court Upholds Reinstatement of Medical Cannabis User's Claim Under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination

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On March 10, 2020, the New Jersey Supreme Court affirmed the reinstatement of a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by a medical cannabis cardholder against his former employer, after he was fired for failing a...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Pennsylvania Court Allows Medical Pot User To Proceed With Wrongful Termination Suit

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In a recent decision, Palmiter v. Commonwealth Health Systems, the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas held that: (a) the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (“MMA”) creates a private right of action for wrongful termination;...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Pennsylvania Court Holds Employees May Sue Under Medical Marijuana Act

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A Pennsylvania state court held that the state’s Medical Marijuana Act creates a private right of action for medical marijuana users to sue their employers. Pamela Palmiter v. Commonwealth Health Systems, Inc., Civ. Action...more

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