Walmart fires employee over prescription medication

[LillFilly]

Oh, WalMart, what are we going to DO with you!?!

This poor guy has an inoperable brain tumor and has a prescription for medical marijuana. He tested positive on a drug test, so they fired him, even though they know what he uses it for. I could continue ranting, but watch the sad video for yourselves. I guess for liability reasons it is a slippery-slope for employers but still...it's sad. A lot of other heavy prescription pain meds could cause just as much of a liability; heck, some of the stuff I have to take makes me feel sick, meaning I shouldn't be driving equipment at work during those days.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35913492...iness-careers/

Comone! The guy is DYING and just wants to do his job.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I honestly have to say the whole situation sucks, not necessarily anybody in it.

Marijuana does have some medicinal benefits, and it's probably helping that guy a lot in terms of pain reduction.

But if he gets in an accident at work with marijuana in his system, and somebody else is injured or killed in it, Wal-Mart is going to get taken to the cleaners because they had an employee working under the influence of marijuana and did nothing about it. It isn't going to matter that he was using marijuana as a result of his brain tumor.

So I really can't come down on one side or the other. This to me is one of those "shit happens" kinds of things. I don't know how to fix that and that discussion is for Fratching anyway.

[iradney]

I agree with Irving - this is indeed a topic that is much better suited for Fratching. Please take it there.