Colorado high court considers marijuana firing case

DENVER — The Colorado Supreme Court is considering a marijuana-related firing case that could have big implications for the state’s pot smokers.

The justices heard arguments Tuesday in the case of Brandon Coats, a quadriplegic medical marijuana patient who was fired from his job at the Dish Network after failing a drug test in 2010. Coats says he needs the drug to help with violent spasms he’s suffered since he was paralyzed in a car accident.

Dish says that because pot is illegal at the federal level, medical marijuana isn’t covered by a state law intended to protect cigarette smokers from being fired for legal behavior off the clock.

Twenty-three states allow medical marijuana, but courts have ruled against patients fired for using it.

The justices didn’t indicate when they would rule or which way they were leaning.