Trucking-related matters rarely reach the U.S. Supreme Court. However, on Tuesday, the nine justices heard arguments concerning the intricate legal issues surrounding truck drivers and marijuana use. The case of Douglas Horn, a former driver for New York-based Enterprise Transportation Co., was presented to the court to determine if the damages he incurred from his 2012 dismissal, following a failed drug test (despite not using marijuana), are eligible for treble damages under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

Consequently, the arguments made by attorneys for Horn and the three companies under the Medical Marijuana umbrella, manufacturers of a CBD product called Dixie X that Horn consumed, did not primarily focus on the broader questions surrounding marijuana use and testing that have emerged in the trucking industry as legalized recreational marijuana becomes more prevalent across the U.S. Nevertheless, even though a failed marijuana test that led to a driver losing their job was not the central theme of the Supreme Court arguments, the topic was raised during the hour-long session.

It all began with a 2012 accident. Horn, suffering from pain resulting from a 2012 crash, stated he took Dixie X after researching the product, which contains cannabidiol. CBD is promoted for its pain-relieving properties. His decision to use Dixie X was reinforced by assurances from Medical Marijuana that the product did not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of marijuana that is detected in drug tests.