Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Finds College Not Required to Accommodate Nursing Student’s Use of Medical Marijuana
On November 6, 2020 by Schnader in Higher EducationKaren Baillie published a client alert, “Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Finds College Not Required to Accommodate Nursing Student’s Use of Medical Marijuana.”
The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court recently ruled that a college, which required all nursing students to take annual mandatory urine drug screens, was not required to accommodate a student’s use of medical marijuana. Harrisburg Area Community College v. Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, No. 664 C.D. 2019.
The nursing student had filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission alleging violations of both the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and the Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act. Both laws prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities and require accommodation of disabilities. The student alleged that she suffered from disabilities which her doctor treated with medical marijuana pursuant to Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act.