James Bulerin III has dreamt of following in his father’s footprints and becoming a city firefighter.
But city officials have dashed those dreams because Bulerin has a medical marijuana card and tested positive for the drug.
“The city has disqualified him from being a firefighter which is a clear violation of the state law,” said Bulerin’s lawyer, Thomas Bucci, who this week filed a discrimination lawsuit against the city on his client’s behalf. “As long as he is not using the drug during working hours, he can’t be denied an employment opportunity,” Bucci said.
A hearing on the suit is scheduled for Feb. 21 in Superior Court here and, depending on a judge’s decision, the case could end up before the state Supreme Court — which has not yet reviewed the state’s medical marijuana law.