New FL Bill Bans Firing MMJ Patients for Drug Use
Some of Florida’s estimated 300,000 medical marijuana users have learned the hard way that although it’s legal to use cannabis to relieve certain conditions, they can still face consequences at work and school. The state statute on medical marijuana upholds an employer’s right to enforce drug-free policies and doesn’t require employers to accommodate workers’ medical marijuana use. But a new Florida House bill could change that. The New FL Bill Bans Firing MMJ Patients for Drug Use. Proposed by Rep. Tina Polsky of Boca Raton, the bill would provide some employment protections to people who use medical marijuana.
Polsky’s bill would bar employers from discriminating against, firing, demoting, or taking any other “adverse personnel action” against employees who are card-carrying pot users. Exceptions include workers performing safety-sensitive job duties such as operating machinery, fighting fires, driving, carrying a firearm, handling hazardous materials, or caring for children or patients.
Under the new bill, if employees’ or job applicants’ drug tests were to come back positive, companies would be required to give written notice so the person can explain those test results. Doctor certifications and medical marijuana cards would be considered proof of legal use. And if an employee were to be fired or otherwise penalized for using pot, the bill would allow that person to sue their employer for damages and reinstatement.
The bill would also allow employers to take action if they believed an employee’s pot use was hampering that person’s performance.
“If you’re impaired to the point that it’s affecting your job, the employer can discharge you for that,” Kemper says.
The bill doesn’t address employees’ rights related to employers asking questions about the conditions that require medical pot use. But federal law says companies can ask about a person’s medical history only if the person has already disclosed a medical condition for which they’re seeking accommodation under the Americans With Disabilities Act or if they’re requesting medical leave. Employers can also ask medical questions if they suspect a condition is affecting an employee’s performance or safety on the job.
That would cross the line if employers asked those personal questions,” Kemper says.
Article courtesy of MiamiNewTimes.com
Knowing this New FL Bill Bans Firing MMJ Patients for Drug Use is great news for the hundreds of thousands of current and prospective legitimate medical marijuana users in the state.
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Author: Shay Dee
Shay is a modern cannabis connoisseur! She enjoys low THC vapes, some infused beverages, and uses CBD for its various medical effects.