Amazon Sued for Firing Employee Over Medical Marijuana

A former Amazon worker in New Jersey is suing after the company fired him for using medical marijuana. Adding insult to injury, he was banned from working at Whole Foods, which is now owned by Amazon, and has had difficulty finding a new job.

Workers in online forums say Amazon requires employees to get a cheek swab for drug testing when hired, and at least once a year after that, according to Vice.com. The lawsuit is one of a growing number of cases between employers and employees.

This past July, New Jersey’s governor signed the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act, prohibiting employers from firing workers for using medical cannabis. The worker was fired in 2018, before the law was enacted. He was prescribed medical cannabis for anxiety and panic attacks, and said it helped him be a better employee.