Colorado Supreme Court: Medical Marijuana Patients Can Be Fired for Smoking Pot Outside Work

So, medical marijuana is legal in Colorado. Actually, any kind-o-pot is legal in the state. But apparently, if you ask the Colorado Supreme Court, it isn't okay for their denizens to use pot... at all! Which is exactly why they've ruled that employers have the right to fire employees for using medicinal marijuana – even if they are not stoned at work.

The decision was made just this morning.

Back in 2010, a "quadriplegic medical marijuana patient" named Brandon Coats was fired from Dish Network for smoking pot... when he was home... and not working.

In a statement, Coats reportedly noted, "Although I'm very disappointed today, I hope that my case has brought the issue of use of medical marijuana and employment to light. If we're making marijuana legal for medical purposes we need to address issues that come along with it such as employment."

He further hopes that rulings such as the one made today "will change soon."

Dish's reasoning for firing Coats some time ago was not based on the fact that he was impaired at work, which he wasn't; it was the "use" in general, and the fact that he had THC in his system.

You know, because he's a medical marijuana user...

His attorney, Michael Evans, claims that the company knew he was a patient. In fact, the attorney told The Huffington Post last year that Coats was also a "top performer" from the company.

The attorney recently wrote, "Today's decision means that until someone in the House or Senate champions the cause, most employees who work in a state with the world's most powerful medical marijuana laws will have to choose between using medical marijuana and work."

Folks, what are your thoughts on the ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court? Twitter seems appalled...

A quadriplegic medical pot user was fired for failing a drug test. CO Supreme Court ruled he can't get his job back. https://t.co/MlRvwoXqZ9

— Allegra Kirkland (@allegrakirkland) June 15, 2015

Why is @Dish firing a disabled employee for using medical marijuana to control muscle spasms in the first place? https://t.co/qQnVX2701U — Jim Naureckas (@JNaureckas) June 15, 2015