Mich. Businesses Unsure How to Deal with Medical Marijuana Users.

Businesses in Michigan are uncertain whether to fire employees who test positive for marijuana use but are authorized to use the drug under the state’s new medical-marijuana law, the Battle Creek Enquirer reported March 28.

A Wal-Mart store in Michigan recently fired a medical-marijuana user after a positive drug test; state law allows medical use of the drug but does not provide any workplace protections for users.

“The law is very clear that employees cannot be intoxicated or use marijuana on the job, and nobody is saying anyone has the right to use marijuana on the job,” said Greg Francisco, executive director of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association. “At the same time, we would hope employers would have a sense of decency.”

Greg Bond, a human resources official with the I.I. Stanley company, said the automotive parts and electronics maker recently enhanced its random drug testing program and has a zero-tolerance policy on drugs. However, Bond didn’t know how the firm would deal with a medical-marijuana user.

“I think it will come down to: you can’t be under the influence at work,” Bond said. “The problem that you run into is, I don’t believe there is a test out there that says you are under the influence now.”

A union official representing workers at Kellogg Co. in Battle Creek said upcoming contract negotiations would address the treatment of medical users. “We’re going to recommend that same [drug testing] procedure that’s in place now, but with new people coming in, because of the law, we would like Kellogg to consider that particular qualifying patient as being still eligible to work,” said Rocky Marsh of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Union, Local 3-G.