Renovo man files court action, seeking compensation for First Quality medical marijuana-related firing

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – A Renovo man claims he was unjustly fired by First Quality Tissue in 2020 over his use of medical marijuana.

A suit was filed on Monday in federal Middle District Court in Williamsport by Kevin Dennis. He claims his firing violated the American with Disabilities and Pennsylvania Human Relations acts.

According to a story on PennLive, Dennis said he was told in September of 2020 not to return to work after flunking a drug test. The court complaint said Dennis had been hired in July of 2019 and a year later was prescribed medical marijuana to treat facial neuropathy, anxiety and depression. He claims he never reported to work under the influence and use of the medical marijuana had no effect on his job performance as a warehouse worker.

According to the PennLive story, First Quality in early September 2020 learned of his prescription and demanded he take a drug test, Dennis says.

Dennis says he complied but said at the time it would come back positive because of his use of medical marijuana. When the test came back positive, he was told not to report until further notice, according to the complaint. The suit says he asked First Quality to “engage in an interactive process to determine if his use of medical marijuana could be granted but instead was fired.”

Dennis is seeking lost past and future earnings and benefits, unspecified compensatory and punitive damages plus additional damages for emotional distress.

The Dennis court filing says he has also filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.