Joseph Casias, Cancer Patient Fired By Walmart For Medical Marijuana Use, Loses Appeal

Cancer Patient Fired By Walmart For Medical Marijuana Use Loses Appeal
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A Michigan appeals court ruled this week that a Walmart employee with an inoperable brain tumor and cancer was not wrongfully fired over medical marijuana use.

Upholding a decision by a federal judge in Grand Rapids, Mich., last year, the appeals court said that "Michigan law doesn't stop employers from firing people who use medical marijuana," the Associated Press reports.

Joseph Casias was an inventory-control manager at a Walmart in Battle Creek, Mich., until he was fired after he tested positive for marijuana in 2009.

According to a 2010 report by the Associated Press, Casias uses medical marijuana to treat symptoms of an inoperable brain tumor and cancer. The married father of two has been in remission for several years, but the medical condition causes him pain and interferes with his ability to speak.

His oncologist had prescribed the treatment after Michigan voters approved medical marijuana use in 2008.

"No patient should be forced to choose between adequate pain relief and gainful employment, and no employer should be allowed to intrude upon private medical choices made by employees in consultation with their doctors," said Scott Michelman, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, in 2010. The ACLU and its Michigan branch, along with attorney Daniel W. Grow, represented Casias in the lawsuit against Walmart.

"For some people, working at Walmart is just a job, but for me, it was a way of life," Casias said in a statement released in 2010. "I came to Walmart for a better opportunity for my family, and I worked hard and proved myself. I just want the opportunity to continue my work."

Addressing the case, Walmart said that marijuana use "conflicts with its safety policy in stores."

"The doctor prescribed treatment was not the relevant issue. The issue is about the ability of our associates to do their jobs safely," the company said in 2010.

ACLU insists that Casius complied with "all applicable state laws and never once smoked marijuana at work or came to work under its influence."

Nonetheless, a federal appeals court said Wednesday that the "state medical marijuana law provides some immunity in criminal cases, but it doesn't offer protection to people in the workplace," according to the Associated Press.

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Before You Go

Nightmares That Involve Walmart
Walmart Calls Police On School Chorus(01 of12)
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A Walmart in Florida complained to police of a "flash mob situation" after a school choir sang "God Bless America" in memorial of the Septemeber 11th, 2001 attacks, the Sun-Sentinel reports. (credit:CBS Miami)
Couple Arrested For Sexual Activity In Walmart(02 of12)
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Julian R. Call, 22, and Tina F. Gianakon, 35, were arrested for engaging in sexual activity in front of fellow shoppers at a Kansas Walmart after stealing K-Y Jelly. (credit:Reno County Sheriff's Office)
Pension Fund Boycotted Walmart For Poor Labor Practices (03 of12)
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Netherlands' biggest pension fund -- it holds over $300 billion in assets -- pulled its investments from Walmart for not abiding with the United Nations' Global Compact principles, which relate to human rights, labor standards, the environment and anti-corruption efforts. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9c5100e4b03a1dcc7dc0c9" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="20" data-vars-position-in-unit="27">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/andrewbain/" target="_blank" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" taberandrew" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9c5100e4b03a1dcc7dc0c9" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/andrewbain/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="21" data-vars-position-in-unit="28"> taberandrew</a>)
Walmart Involved In Mexico Bribery Campaign(04 of12)
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When Walmart senior executives found out that Walmart de Mexico had allegedly been involved in a bribery campaign to open new stores, they then allegedly covered it up. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9c5100e4b03a1dcc7dc0c9" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="17" data-vars-position-in-unit="24">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/notionscapital/" target="_blank" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9c5100e4b03a1dcc7dc0c9" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/notionscapital/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="18" data-vars-position-in-unit="25"> Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com</a>)
Walmart Threatened To Fire Mormon Worker For Observing Sabbath(05 of12)
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A Mormon assistant manager at Walmart, who had been observing the Sabbath as an employee for more than ten years, faced disciplinary action after a change in their scheduling rules no longer accommodated his observance. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9c5100e4b03a1dcc7dc0c9" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="14" data-vars-position-in-unit="21">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/timpearcelosgatos/" target="_blank" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" Tim Pearce, Los Gatos" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9c5100e4b03a1dcc7dc0c9" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/timpearcelosgatos/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="15" data-vars-position-in-unit="22"> Tim Pearce, Los Gatos</a>)
Man Died After Brawl With Walmart Security(06 of12)
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Jose Marcos Picazo suspiciously died after Walmart security guards in California arrested him for alleged shoplifting. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9c5100e4b03a1dcc7dc0c9" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="11" data-vars-position-in-unit="18">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/protohiro/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" protohiro" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9c5100e4b03a1dcc7dc0c9" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/protohiro/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="12" data-vars-position-in-unit="19"> protohiro</a>)
Walmart Lobbied To Change Anti-Bribery Laws(07 of12)
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Walmart was involved in a lobbying campaign to weaken the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which was meant to reduce liability for bribing foreign officials. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9c5100e4b03a1dcc7dc0c9" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="8" data-vars-position-in-unit="15">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/donkeyhotey/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" DonkeyHotey" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9c5100e4b03a1dcc7dc0c9" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/donkeyhotey/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="9" data-vars-position-in-unit="16"> DonkeyHotey</a>)
Walmart Involved In Many Sex Discrimination Suits(08 of12)
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Walmart has been involved in a number of ongoing lawsuits for discrimination against female employees. Some of the allegations have included derogatory language at the workplace, unfair promotion practices and pay discrimination. (credit:AP)
Walmart Customer Injured Others To Win Black Friday Deals(09 of12)
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A woman wanted cheap Black Friday deals on Walmart electronics so badly that she used pepper spray on a crowd at a Los Angeles Walmart. Twenty people were injured. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9c5100e4b03a1dcc7dc0c9" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="4" data-vars-position-in-unit="11">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/usnavy/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" Official U.S. Navy Imagery" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9c5100e4b03a1dcc7dc0c9" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/usnavy/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="5" data-vars-position-in-unit="12"> Official U.S. Navy Imagery</a>)
Walmart Contractor Sued For Labor Law Violations(10 of12)
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Warehouse workers in California sued a contractor that works with Walmart for labor law violations, including poor labor conditions, shortchanging pay and threatening to fire them for complaining about anything. (credit:Getty)
Walmart Exposed For Political Lobbying To Weaken Labor, Whistleblower And Environmental Laws(11 of12)
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New York City public advocate Bill de Blasio recently launched 6degreesofwalmart.com to expose Walmart secret political spending, meant to influence the political process in a number of ways, including reducing protection for workers, whistleblowers and the environment. (credit:6degreesofwalmart.com)
Walmart Employee Shot Supervisor, Killed Himself(12 of12)
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A Walmart employee at a distribution center in Virginia shot and wounded his female supervisor right before he killed himself. (credit:AP)

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