Medical marijuana law complicates compliance.

Some Pennsylvanians may obtain medical marijuana through a state system that requires a specific diagnosis from an approved medical provider. Patients receive a card authorizing them to purchase marijuana through official dispensaries.

The law on firing employees who have obtained medical marijuana is complex and changing. Medical marijuana is still illegal under federal law and suspension is required under some federal regulations for specific jobs.

The problem facing employers is that the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act provides worker protections as follows:

"No employer may discharge, threaten, refuse to hire or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an employee regarding an employee's compensation, terms, conditions, location or privileges solely on the basis of such employee's status as an individual who is certified to use medical marijuana."

This was not addressed in Parrotta v...