Michigan Employers Can Refuse to Hire Medical Marijuana Users

A state appellate court held (in an unpublished opinion) that the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA) did not provide a cause of action for an applicant whose conditional job offer from the city of Lansing was rescinded after he tested positive for marijuana during a mandatory pre-employment drug test. Eplee v. City of Lansing, 2019 Mich. App. LEXIS 277 (Feb. 19, 2019).

This is at least the second decision involving failed drug tests, medical marijuana. and the MMMA. Both were decided in the employer's favor.

The state appellate court decision focused on the following MMMA provision:

The court held that the MMMA did not make medical marijuana users a protected class and did not "provide an independent right protecting the medical use of marijuana in all circumstances."

It distinguished the outcome in this case from that in a trio of cases in which a separate Michigan appellate court panel held medical-marijuana-using employees discharged for failing an employer's mandatory drug test were entitled to state unemployment benefits. In that instance, the employees had a right to unemployment benefits that were denied based on their medical marijuana use. However, in the more recent case, the applicant did not have a right to employment with the city.

Instances involving applicant or employee use of medical and/or recreational marijuana are becoming more common. More infrequent, however, are decisions clarifying whether or how these laws address marijuana use in the employment context. Accordingly, employers should consult knowledgeable counsel when determining whether and how to develop and apply drug testing policies and procedures.

Sebastian Chilco is an attorney with Littler in San Francisco. Dale L. Deitchler is an attorney with Littler in Minneapolis. Nancy Delogu is an attorney with Littler in Washington, D.C.