Proposed law would protect California medical marijuana patients from losing jobs

State Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, is proposing a law that would prohibit employers from firing workers simply because they are medical marijuana patients.

Our Los Angeles medical marijuana defense lawyers are in full support of the measure, which passed both houses of the California legislature in 2008, only to be vetoed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The proposal would prohibit employers from discriminating against medical marijuana patients when making hiring or firing decisions or in determining their rights to participate in the workplace. Employers would still be permitted to fire workers for impairment on the job. The Sacramento Bee reports jobs which could impact the health or safety of others would be exempted from the provision. Positions that would not be protected by the measure include school bus drivers, health care providers and operators of heavy equipment.

A Supreme Court decision upheld the firing of a California man who was dismissed after failing a drug test at a telecommunications firm. The employee said he had a medical marijuana card for back pain and health problems suffered as a member of the Armed Forces.

Leno said that decision effectively limits medical marijuana rights in California to the unemployed and his legislative proposal would grant those same rights to California’s workforce.

The CANNABIS LAW GROUP offers experienced and aggressive representation to the medical marijuana industry in Southern California– including growers, dispensaries and collectives, patients and those facing marijuana charges. Call 949-375-4734 for a confidential consultation to discuss your rights.