Arizona Veteran Fired for Using Medical Marijuana

A Desert Storm combat veteran and Arizona medical marijuana cardholder has lost his job because he tested positive for marijuana after a work injury that resulted in a mandatory post-injury drug test.

The veteran, who is remaining anonymous, uses marijuana to ease his PTSD symptoms, WPTV 5 News reported.

Arizona’s medical marijuana law states that patients can’t be fired just for having a medical marijuana card. However, some employers use a no-drug policy as a loophole to fire medical marijuana patients.

Employers have to be able to cite a specific reason that indicates impairment at work or at the time of an injury in order to legally terminate a medical marijuana patient.

Arizona law states, in section 36-2813, that, “Unless a failure to do so would cause an employer to lose a monetary or licensing related benefit under federal law or regulations, an employer may not discriminate against a person in hiring, termination or imposing any term or condition of employment or otherwise penalize a person based upon either: 1. The person’s status as a cardholder. 2. A registered qualifying patient’s positive drug test for marijuana components or metabolites, unless the patient used, possessed or was impaired by marijuana on the premises of the place of employment or during the hours of employment.”

Arizona’s legal protections do support medical marijuana patients, but only to a certain degree.

The veteran said it perfectly, “Be careful cause you’re not as safe as you think you are, the law doesn’t protect you as much as you think.”