The Colorado’s Supreme Court Unfortunate Ruling On Employment Discrimination

Earlier this week, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that employers in Colorado can fire employees for cannabis use even if they are medical cannabis patients. At the center of Monday’s ruling is Brandon Coats, a quadriplegic that used cannabis to control leg spasms while off duty from his job. Coats had argued that his usage was protected under Colorado state law, but the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that he could be fired because cannabis is illegal under federal law.

Here are some key takeaways to help you understand the ruling:

This Ruling is Very Narrow

Law professor Sam Kamin told the Denver Post that the ruling “really comes down to interpreting this one word in this one statute.” Because cannabis is not legal under federal law, the Court ruled that the Colorado law…