Massachusetts: Employers Must Follow Disability Accommodation Rules for Employees Using Medical Marijuana

The court stated that an employee may claim handicap discrimination, in violation of state law (G.L. Chapter 151B), if terminated for medical marijuana use. However, there is no private cause of action available under the state Medical Marijuana Act. According to Chapter 151B, to succeed on such a claim, a plaintiff must show that she is a “qualified handicapped person, capable of performing the essential functions of the position … with reasonable accommodation, unless the employer can demonstrate that the accommodation … would impose an undue hardship to the employer’s business.”

There, the plaintiff qualified as a handicapped person due to her Crohn’s disease, and claimed she would be able to perform the essential functions of her job with an accommodation where the employer waives its drug policy barring employment from those who test positive for marijuana. When dealing with a qualified handicapped employee, the court stated that an employer has a duty to engage in the interactive process to determine whether there are equally effective medical alternatives to the prescribed medical marijuana. If there is no equally effective alternative, the employer must prove that the use of medical marijuana would cause an undue hardship.

Moreover, the court reaffirmed the validity of the state’s Medical Marijuana Act, and looked to its requirement that patients not be denied “any right or privilege” on the basis of medical marijuana use, including the statutory “right or privilege” to a reasonable accommodation under Chapter 151B. The court further noted that the Medical Marijuana Act does not require “any accommodation of any on-site medical use of marijuana in any place of employment.”

Nonetheless, after engaging in the interactive process, an employer may still show that permitting off-site medical marijuana use is an undue hardship, for example, if it (1) impairs the employee’s performance of work, (2) poses an “unacceptably significant” safety risk to the public, employee, or fellow employees, or (3) violates the employer’s contractual or statutory obligation thereby jeopardizing its ability to perform its business (e.g., Department of Transportation regulations, federal contractor requirements, etc.).

Action Items

1. Have company drug testing policies reviewed for revisions consistent with this ruling.
2. Revise internal procedures to include engaging in the interactive process for requests for accommodation for medical marijuana use under state law.
3. Seek legal counsel before denying a request for accommodation for medical marijuana use.
4. Subscribers can call our HR On-Call Hotline at (888) 378-2456 for further assistance.

Disclaimer: This document is designed to provide general information and guidance concerning employment-related issues. It is presented with the understanding that ManagEase is not engaged in rendering any legal opinions. If a legal opinion is needed, please contact the services of your own legal adviser.

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