New York board rules that taxi drivers are allowed to use medical marijuana

A New York City administrative board has ruled that taxi drivers cannot be discriminated against for using medical cannabis.

The New York City Office of Administrative Trials & Hearings (OATH) recently found that revoking a Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) driver’s license over legal medical marijuana use violates both city and state laws, reports the National Law Review.

The ruling comes after the TLC revoked a taxi driver’s license in July because the driver tested positive for pot. The license is required for all taxi drivers to legally operate in the city.

The OATH decision cites the New York Compassionate Care Act, which states that certified patients cannot be denied any rights or privileges solely due to their medical cannabis use, nor should they be subject to any penalties.

TLC’s revocation of the driver’s license was considered unjustified in this case, because the driver’s use of cannabis was fully legal under the Compassionate Care Act.

Moreover, all certified patients in New York are deemed to have a disability under the New York State Human Rights Law, which provides further…