Joseph Casias worked as a Wal-Mart employee in Michigan for five years. He was named the store’s Associate of the Year, back in 2008. He was a hard worker and received much acclaim from fellow co-workers and respect from his superiors within the company. In 2009, just three days before Thanksgiving, Casias was terminated from his position with the mega super store. He was given a mandatory drug test after he sprained his knee. This occurred on the job, when he was attempting to unload merchandise from a severely overloaded, top heavy cart.

He suffers from a type of sinus cancer. He (now, the father of two) was diagnosed with this rare form of cancer when he was only 17. There is very little chance that the tumor can be removed, it is the size of a softball and he has been living with it for years. Casias is a medical marijuana card holder. He has one for pain treatment for his condition. Yet he was fired when he tested positive for thc compounds found within his system.

Casias attempted to take Wal-Mart to state court, but corporate lawyers managed to get his case moved to federal court. Unfortunately, there- his case was dismissed. Though, Casias’ lawyers aren’t giving up yet. His case is currently circulating through the US Court of Appeals. His lawyers are stating that the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act should steadfastly protect medical marijuana users from being terminated from their employers, even if they cannot pass a drug test. Read the full article, including an interview with Casias, courtesy of High Times magazine here.