A Minnesota man is suing Honeywell International Inc. after the company rescinded a job offer following a positive cannabis test, despite the man being on the state’s Medical Cannabis Registry. The lawsuit, filed in federal court on Wednesday, claims Honeywell violated state cannabis and disability laws by withdrawing the offer.
Ratana Vanara, who uses medical cannabis to manage his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was offered a job as a machine setup operator at Honeywell’s Minneapolis location. The offer was contingent on a background check and drug test. After testing positive for cannabis, Vanara’s job offer was revoked, citing “safety concerns.”
However, the complaint asserts that the real reason for the rescinded offer was the cannabis test and argues that Honeywell’s actions violated the state’s Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research Act. This law prohibits discrimination against individuals for a positive drug test unless they were impaired by cannabis while on the job.
Vanara also claims that Honeywell discriminated against him due to his disability, as PTSD is classified as a qualified disability under the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Furthermore, the lawsuit states that Honeywell failed to offer Vanara a confirmatory retest or provide him with the required written notice of his right to explain the positive test, as mandated by the state’s Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace Act (DATWA).
