Fired Worker in Massachusetts Argues Pot Use Didn’t Violate Company Policy

July 18, 2018

  • July 18, 2018 at 2:53 pm
    Skeptical says:
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    That is one of the problems with either recreational or medical marijuana. The THC element stays in the system up to two or three weeks and can test positive up to that long after imbibing. It would be impossible to determine whether impairment occurred just from testing.

  • July 18, 2018 at 2:54 pm
    Agent says:
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    • July 18, 2018 at 3:46 pm
      helpingout says:
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      Mike,
      Please be an adult and have an actual topic on hand rather than spouting your opinion on someone’s personal use of a legal substance in that state. While yes some do abuse cannabis and would use it before work there is a large crowd who do not use cannabis before work but will afterwards. Grow up.

      • July 18, 2018 at 4:49 pm
        PolarBeaRepeal says:
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        • July 19, 2018 at 9:22 am
          helpingout says:
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          Polar,
          Here, I agree that an employer has the right to fire a worker for what they do in their free time if the state has cannabis illegal both medicinally and for recreational purposes. If it is legal I do see an issue with this, but I will admit it is hard to test when exactly a person smoked. I did contribute something valuable because unlike agent, I do not know why you are saying I am disrespecting other commentators when agent has told people before to grow up on here. Your bias is showing polar in your attempt to push agents point without proof either.

        • July 20, 2018 at 8:15 am
          FL Broker says:
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          Polar- why do you feel the need, or even think that your entitled to tell others how to comment on articles posted by IJ?

        • July 24, 2018 at 3:49 pm
          bob says:
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          Why do you believe he doesn’t get to comment about how people comment on these posts? He’s not allowed input on that?

          I suppose no one here should ever have to self reflect on any of their comments, and should never hear someone question them.

          That’s very healthy.

          Obvious sarcasm is obvious, but it seriously points out your issue here.

  • July 18, 2018 at 5:05 pm
    MrD says:
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    All of these states legalizing marijuana (recreational or medical use) seem to be forgetting one major issue. Any employer should have the right to demand a workplace unaffected by drug use on or off the job. If you want to use drugs, fine, you just will not be able to work for an employer that restricts you from being in their employ.

  • July 18, 2018 at 8:29 pm
    PolarBeaRepeal says:
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    Stoners completely miss the point as to WHY pot use is against company policy of many employers… i.e. safety of employees, business partners, suppliers, clients, and customers. This article gives one instance of the consequences of breaking those rules.

    • July 19, 2018 at 8:26 am
      retired risk manager says:
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      Polar: You are on point. Employers are free to set the terms and conditions of employment. THC is fat soluble, and as such, will stay in the body for up to 30 days. As long as it is in the body, it affects the body. Positive is positive …period. I know of employers that used hair samples to test. And hair grows at a quarter inch per month. Hard drugs will flush from the body in 72 hours. Just as an employer can prohibit smoking in the workplace, they can prohibit drugs and drinking. And please, no specious arguments about “what an employee does on their time” etc. Don’t like the rules, go find another job.

      • July 19, 2018 at 12:16 pm
        CCC says:
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        retired risk manager says: “As long as it is in the body, it affects the body.”

        Honestly, I am curious to know more about this. What effects does THC have on the body a week after consumption? Two weeks? I was under the impression that it could impair a person for up to ~6 hours. If an employee smokes a joint on Friday night, are they still impaired the following Wednesday. Everything I have read says they aren’t. Please elaborate.

        That said, I agree 100% that employees need to follow employer rules, or find a different job.

        • July 19, 2018 at 3:47 pm
          retired risk manager says:
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          CCC:

          Your point is well taken, but it also illustrates the problem with THC. No one really knows how seriously the person is being impaired by the THC. Just as there are one drink drunks, there are people who appear quite sober, but would test 3x the legal limit. Hard core drinkers develop a tolerance. That is also true for hard core THC users. But in the case of those people, they must smoke more and more to achieve the same high. That is why THC is considered a gateway drug. As in, they just cannot smoke enough to get the same high, so they move on to something stronger. And I know this because I”m also a life member of the Texas Narcotics Officers Association. I know from personal observation. I’ve never met a meth user that didn’t start with THC.

          • July 19, 2018 at 5:41 pm
            helpingout says:
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            Retired,

            I do agree with your remarks on tolerance for the most part, but the gateway theory has been disproved multiple times. Cannabis is not a gateway drug. While yes there is a correlation, correlations do not prove causation. Also cannabis does not have the strongest correlation with harder drugs it is a slightly moderation correlation at best. Also your point about the meth user is your perspective which is not statistically significant and could be potentially attributed to multiple other factors, one being your general geographic location.

          • July 24, 2018 at 2:50 pm
            LadyLisa says:
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            Or Alcohol.

        • July 19, 2018 at 4:18 pm
          Craig Cornell says:
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          The other consideration is the amount used over time. Someone who smokes a little on one day will have rapid improvement in awareness and rapidly dimished intoxication. Someone who smokes a lot on one day will take longer to recover and can actually be somewhat intoxicated a day or two later.

  • July 23, 2018 at 3:59 pm
    AlreadyWon says:
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    Cannabis: soon to be completely legalized and coming to a neighborhood near you…actually it’s probably already in your neighborhood being responsibly consumed by your nicest neighbors.

    You may think it’s a gateway drug or that all stoners are irresponsible pinheads, but you’re a minority. Feel free to post nasty comments about it, but you’re gonna be that grumpy old senior, spouting off about nonsense, while the rest of the world happily moves forward.

    • July 24, 2018 at 3:24 pm
      craig cornell says:
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      If a teenager smokes pot regularly, he or she risks brain damage.
      If anyone smokes pot regularly, he or she risks serious mental illness (by a factor of 2 to 5 time greater chance).
      If a mother smokes pot while pregnant, the unborn child is at risk for brain damage. And 20% of pregnant American women smoke pot (40% of African American women who are pregnant).

      Seems like you Pot Fans have some ‘splaining to do, since so few people know the truth. “Responsibly consumed”. Sounds like a Tobacco commercial.

  • July 24, 2018 at 2:53 pm
    LadyLisa says:
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    Although marijuana use is legal in some states, either medically or recreationally, it still is a Federal crime, and that is how employers can fire employees for use.



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