Providence Partner Mark Freel Comments on a Rhode Island Court Decision on Medical Marijuana in the Workplace in Bloomberg BNA

Providence’s Mark Freel, a Partner in Locke Lord’s Litigation Department, commented on a recent court decision on medical marijuana use in the workplace. A Rhode Island fabrics company violated the state’s medical marijuana law when it wouldn’t hire a paid intern who had medical permission to use the drug, a state superior court judge ruled. Freel said this ruling is problematic for employers, especially manufacturers since employees who come to work under the influence of marijuana can present serious safety problems.

Mark noted: “The judge is basically saying that you can’t refuse a job to a person on the basis of medical marijuana use. This may be a unique set of facts to this case, but it is a big issue and a big problem for employers in this state.”

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