The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that employers can fire workers who use marijuana outside of work.
Even though medicinal and recreational use of marijuana use is legal throughout Colorado, it remains illegal under federal law. As a result, the court said using the drug even outside of work can’t be considered a legal activity, according to the Associated Press.
The 5-1 decision stems from the case of Brandon Coats, a quadriplegic who was fired by Dish Network after failing a drug test in 2010. Coats, who said he didn’t use marijuana at work, argued his use of the drug was allowed under a Colorado law intended to protect employees form being fired for legal activities while not at work.
However, marijuana’s intoxicating chemical, THC, can stay in a person’s system for weeks, thus breaking the employer’s zero-tolerance drug policy.
“There is no exception for marijuana use for medicinal purposes, or for marijuana use conducted in accordance with state law,” the court wrote.
Colorado joins California, Montana and Washington state whose Supreme courts have ruled against medical marijuana patients fired for marijuana use.
(h/t The Associated Press)
