Legal/Ethical: Wal-Mart
Chapter Two
Legal/Ethical Challenge
Wal-Mart
What would you do if you were an executive at Wal-Mart? 1. Give Casias his job back. He is a great employee and is not violating state law about using marijuana for medical conditions. If I were an executive at Wal-Mart, I would amend the drug policy. I know that according to the Controlled Substance Act, marijuana is a controlled substance primarily because it has a high potential to be abused and there is no currently acceptable use. Under Federal Law there is no such thing as “medical marijuana”. Quite a few states have embraced this new phenomena of allowing people with certain ailments to use marijuana in hopes that it “might” alleviate some chronic pain associated with MS, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, and others. If the individual was not under the influence at the time of the workplace accident or the drug screen, then I think he should not have been fired. Situations like the one in question should be handled on a case by case basis. I feel like there should be some guidelines regarding drugs on the controlled substance list that allow for the user to take voluntary time off when the drug is needed to administered and return when the drug has run its course. Pilots that drink can’t fly for 8 hours after consuming alcohol. Patients who need extreme drugs for extreme measures should be afforded some of the same courtesies. I realize there is a need to protect people. I feel like the protection should be extended to both sides. If you have a use for something like this, then don’t come to work until you can do so safely but don’t fire me for being sick. 2. Zero tolerance should be applied and he should be fired. Regardless of what state law says, it is illegal under federal laws to use marijuana. Standards for marijuana should be the same as any other drug. If I were an executive at Wal-Mart I would begin trying to change policy. I would put accommodations in place that would help
Legal/Ethical Challenge
Wal-Mart
What would you do if you were an executive at Wal-Mart? 1. Give Casias his job back. He is a great employee and is not violating state law about using marijuana for medical conditions. If I were an executive at Wal-Mart, I would amend the drug policy. I know that according to the Controlled Substance Act, marijuana is a controlled substance primarily because it has a high potential to be abused and there is no currently acceptable use. Under Federal Law there is no such thing as “medical marijuana”. Quite a few states have embraced this new phenomena of allowing people with certain ailments to use marijuana in hopes that it “might” alleviate some chronic pain associated with MS, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, and others. If the individual was not under the influence at the time of the workplace accident or the drug screen, then I think he should not have been fired. Situations like the one in question should be handled on a case by case basis. I feel like there should be some guidelines regarding drugs on the controlled substance list that allow for the user to take voluntary time off when the drug is needed to administered and return when the drug has run its course. Pilots that drink can’t fly for 8 hours after consuming alcohol. Patients who need extreme drugs for extreme measures should be afforded some of the same courtesies. I realize there is a need to protect people. I feel like the protection should be extended to both sides. If you have a use for something like this, then don’t come to work until you can do so safely but don’t fire me for being sick. 2. Zero tolerance should be applied and he should be fired. Regardless of what state law says, it is illegal under federal laws to use marijuana. Standards for marijuana should be the same as any other drug. If I were an executive at Wal-Mart I would begin trying to change policy. I would put accommodations in place that would help