Medical Marijuana Takes A Hit After Supreme Court Ruling

Although Colorado has the most relaxed marijuana rules in the US, the Supreme Court

Monday that companies have the right to fire workers who fail drug tests for using the drug. The decision delivered a major blow to proponents of marijuana legalization in the US, but allowed companies to breathe a sigh of relief as the case could have had far reaching implications.

Colorado law allows employers to set their own rules regarding whether or not their employees are permitted to use marijuana outside of work. However, when medical marijuana patient Brandon Coats was fired from

for failing a random drug screening, he countered that off-the-clock medical marijuana use was legal under Colorado's current laws.

Coats, a paraplegic, was using the drug to control his muscle spasms and took Dish to court after being fired in 2010. The case made its way up to the Supreme Court this year where it was closely watched by the medical marijuana community and US firms as it will set an important precedent as marijuana legalization continues.

In Colorado, workers are protected from being fired for carrying out legal activities outside of work. However, the court ruled that although marijuana is considered legal under Colorado law, it is still classified as illegal under federal law and therefore Coats' activities weren't protected. The decision was a blow to the medical marijuana community and underscored the many complications that stem from conflicting state and federal laws.