Appeal denied; jobless pay OK for medical marijuana firings

DETROIT (AP) — People fired in Michigan for using medical marijuana can collect unemployment benefits after the state Supreme Court turned down appeals in two cases.

The court declined to hear appeals that could have overturned a 2014 state appeals court decision.

A brief order was released last Thursday. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce and Attorney General Bill Schuette’s office had urged the state’s top court to intervene.

It’s a victory for a hospital employee and a furniture repairman who had medical marijuana cards but lost their jobs.

The appeals court said there was no evidence they worked under the influence of pot or used marijuana at work.

Michigan employers still can fire workers who use marijuana, even if they have a card. That was settled by a federal court in 2011.