Tuesday, Coughlin took that case to Beacon Hill, telling her story to legislators.

“I think it’s so important for her to tell her story,” Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville) said.
Sen. Jehlen who says some state laws do differ from federal laws and companies have to adjust.

“It was just so counter-productive. And it was really devastating for her. She moved to Methuen to be near this job,” Jehlen said.

Jehlen says there probably will need to be some changes in state law to protect workers who use marijuana — provided they are not showing up at work impaired.

“Everybody knows that every time you pass a law, you want to see how it works. And here we know,” Jehlen said.

Coughlin’s attorney says what we know is that marijuana use is legal for adults in Massachusetts. But he says it’s what his client didn’t know that led her to this point.

“People in Massachusetts have been told that this is a legal substance adults are free to use it and it didn’t occur to a lot of people, including Bernadette that you could face some severe repercussions,” attorney David Hadas said.

“Someone should be able to go home, in the evening, and engage in that legal behavior without their employer essentially monitoring them.”