Colorado marijuana retailer agrees to pay $95K for disability retaliation case

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DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado company with seven dispensaries will pay $95,000 to a former employee to settle an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit, according to an announcement Thursday.

Nature’s Herb and Wellness Center, doing business as High Plainz Strains, was accused of not accommodating a budtender’s disabilities after the employee disclosed them and requested accommodations.

The lawsuit alleged that when the employee complained about disability discrimination, she was suspended without pay and later fired. According to EEOC, internal communications were found where the owner “instructed human resources to ‘cut [the employee] loose’ because she did not disclose her disabilities when she was hired.”

It was also alleged that the human resources manager referred to the employee as a “fruitcake.”

According to the EEOC, the alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability.

The lawsuit was resolved through a consent decree shortly after being filed by the EEOC. Under the consent decree terms, Nature’s Herb will pay the employee $95,000 for back pay and compensatory damages. The company is also required to not discriminate or retaliate against employees in the future and will be required to revise its policies.

It will also have to report to the EEOC on any disability discrimination complaints for two years.

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Samantha Jarpe

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