Jamal Campbell filed his lawsuit against the refinery company, Watco Companies and Watco Transloading LLC, in U.S. District Court in April claiming the firm violated New Jersey’s medical cannabis law and state anti-discrimination laws.
According to the lawsuit outlined by NJ.com, Campbell injured his back on the job in 2016 and became a medical cannabis patient in 2018 for pain related to a bulging disc. The lawsuit contends that Campbell never used cannabis at work or came into work under the influence.
Campbell worked as an operator at the company, mostly loading cargo trains, from 2014 until December 2020 when a manager told him he would have to take a random drug test. Campbell said he would fail due to his medical cannabis use, but the manager said he would have to comply or risk losing his job. Campbell ultimately tested positive for cannabis and was fired.
Campbell further claims that the Kansas-based firm violated New Jersey workplace discrimination laws by not attempting to find reasonable accommodation for his disability and prescribed medical cannabis use, the report says.