From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Marijuana can get you fired, even when it's legal.

I'm Judy Mueller, sitting in for Warren Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

The whole country is watching Washington State in Colorado to see how their laws legalizing marijuana work out.

But the federal government still considers pot to be an illegal substance, and employers are caught in the middle.

Should they follow federal or state law?

Do workers know they can still be fired for lighting up, even if it's off the job? It happened to a man in Colorado, a quadriplegic using medical marijuana at home for his pain. Is his case a cautionary tale? On today's talking point, Hollywood seems to be in love with despicable characters. One critic calls it a

shameless trend. Now the news. Listen to KCRW's 24-hour all-news channel. Stream BBC World

Service, NPR and KCRW programs. Continuous coverage and accessible via our smartphone app or online at KCRW.com.

Support for To The Point comes from the members of KCRW and from the Public Radio International Program Fund. I'm Judy Mueller, sitting in for

Warren Only, back with To the Point. Coming up, legal use of marijuana does not mean you can't be

fired from your job for lighting up even in the privacy of your own home. Two states, Washington

and Colorado, have passed laws legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

Alaska may have a similar measure on its August ballot, and more than 20 states allow medical marijuana use, and yet employers still have the right in many states to fireworkers who test

positive for marijuana, regardless of legality. On today's talking point, television series are

suddenly teeming with self-absorbed

petty characters. Why do we like them so much? First is news update. The Obama administration

today said it would recognize as lawful the marriages of some 1,300 same-sex couples in Utah.

This comes after the state of Utah said it would refuse to do so. Attorney General

Eric Holder posted a video on the Justice Department's website to make the announcement.

These families should not be asked to endure uncertainty regarding their status as the litigation

...