Mar 18 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Joseph Casias has sinus cancer and an inoperable brain tumor. Despite that he has still been working full time at Walmart in Battle Creek Michigan, and was even named Associate of the Year in 2008. Now he has been fired by Walmart for using medical marijuana that his doctor recommended to help ease his pain.

During the five years that Casias worked for the Battle Creek Walmart, he said that he went to work everyday, determined not to let his illness get the best of him. “I gave them everything,” he says. “110 percent every day. Anything they asked me to do I did. More than they asked me to do. 12 to 14 hours a day.” He also stated that he never came to work high, but used the drug after work to help him relax and ease the symptoms of his cancer. “No, I never came to work under the influence, never,” he says. “I don’t think it’s fair. Because I have a medical condition I can’t work and provide for my family?”

Casias sprained his knee at work, and was then given a routine drug test that follows any workplace injury that occurs. Although he showed the Walmart managers his state medical card, he was fired anyway. “I was told they do not accept or honor my medical marijuana card,” says Casias.

The spokesman for Walmart, Greg Rossiter tried explaining the company’s policy,”In states, such as Michigan, where prescriptions for marijuana can be obtained, an employer can still enforce a policy that requires termination of employment following a positive drug screen. We believe our policy complies with the law and we support decisions based on the policy.” Although Rossiter called the situation “unfortunate” he said that they will not re hire Casias. Casias’s former manager apologized to Casias, but added that the rules cannot be bent, even if the marijuana was legally used.

Although Casias has been surviving on the unemployment compensation which he was receiving since he was fired in November, but now Walmart has notified him that they are going to challenge his right to receive the benefits. It is not the first time Walmart has fired someone for questionable reasons. The company has also been known to push farmers from their land to make way for new stores, and many other “UnAmerican” actions. Just do a random Google search, the results may surprise you.