You may live in a state where medical marijuana is legal and have a prescription to use the drug for a legitimate medical purpose, but that doesn't mean you can't be fired by your employer if you fail a drug test. A federal judge has ruled medical marijuana laws do not regulate private employment. You may live in a state where medical marijuana is legal and have a prescription to use the drug for a legitimate medical purpose, but that doesn't mean you can't be fired by your employer if you fail a drug test. A federal judge has ruled medical marijuana laws do not regulate private employment.

The ruling came in the case of a Michigan man who sued WalMart after he was fired for testing positive for marijuana.

Joseph Casias, a former associate of the year at a Battle Creek WalMart store, was prescribed medical marijuana for pain associated with an inoperable brain tumor and cancer. He did not smoke marijuana at work, but failed a random drug test.

WalMart said its policy had nothing to do with whether the marijuana was prescribed, the issue was whether or not its employees could do their jobs safely.

Judge Jonker said no where in Michigan's medical marijuana law does it mandate that employers have to accommodate employees' off-duty use of marijuana.

ACLU to Appeal Ruling

Earlier, a Michigan judge ruled that employers and workers compensation insurers do not have to pay for medical marijuana.

The American Civil Liberties Union plans to appeal the rulings.