Maryland Senate Passes Bill To Protect Firefighters And Rescue Workers From Being Punished For Medical Marijuana

The Maryland Senate committee has handed a invoice to protect for fire and rescue workers from being penalized for off-duty use of medical marijuana.

The measure from Sen. Carl Jackson (D) cleared the chamber in a vote of 36-8 on Monday. It now heads to the House of Representatives, the place companion laws has additionally been filed this session however has not but superior.

Under the proposal, state legislation can be amended to codify that firefighters and different rescue employees who’re registered medical hashish sufferers couldn’t be penalized over their participation within the state-legal program or for testing constructive for marijuana.

Employers couldn’t “discipline, discharge, or otherwise discriminate against the fire and rescue public safety employee with respect to the employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment” primarily based solely on a constructive screening for THC metabolites.

They additionally couldn’t “limit, segregate, or classify its employees in any way that would deprive or tend to deprive the fire and rescue public safety employee of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the fire and rescue public safety employee’s status as an employee,” the invoice textual content says.

However, employers might proceed to set zero-tolerance insurance policies for on-duty impairment from hashish.

NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano celebrated the development of the reform measure.

“For the better part of the past year, NORML has worked alongside firefighters and other rescue workers on behalf of the enactment of these common-sense protections,” he instructed Marijuana Moment on Monday. “Several other states and counties have already adopted similar protections for public employees, including firefighters, and Maryland should do so as well. The use of medical cannabis use should never be grounds for discrimination of any kind.”

The invoice was authorized final week by the Senate Finance Committee, which adopted an modification.

Initially the invoice stated that employers might particularly prohibit using marijuana inside 12 hours of coming to the job, however language on the timeline was altered in committee as a consequence of considerations in regards to the enforceability of the coverage.

The modification additionally clarifies that employers can prohibit on-duty intoxication from medical or adult-use marijuana merchandise. The invoice beforehand referenced solely medical hashish.

At an preliminary listening to earlier than the Finance Committee earlier final week, the sponsor stated “our brave fire and rescue personnel put their lives on the line daily to protect our communities, often at great personal risk.”

“It is imperative that we provide them with the access to the medical care they need, including physician-approved cannabis treatments, without fear of employment repercussions,” Jackson stated.

“Firefighters endure extreme physical and psychological stress due to the nature of their work. Many suffer from chronic pain, post traumatic stress disorder and other debilitating conditions resulting from the hazards they face in the line of duty. Traditional treatment options such as opioids and other prescription medications can have dangerous side effects—including dependency, cognitive impairment and the reduced ability to function effectively. Medical cannabis has been recognized as a safer, viable alternative that will allow firefighters to manage their symptoms while maintaining their ability to perform at the highest level.”

“Despite proven medical benefits of cannabis, outdated employment policies continue to penalize firefighters who are unable to legally use it under a doctor supervision,” he continued. “This contradiction between medical necessity and employment policies places firefighters in an untenable position, forcing them to choose between their health and their career.”

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Companion laws to the Senate bill has been filed within the House and is at present pending earlier than the chamber’s Economic Matters committee.

The invoice’s development comes about two months after officers in Maryland’s most populous county stated they were moving to loosen marijuana policies for would-be police officers in an effort to spice up recruitment amid a staffing scarcity.

Meanwhile, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) final month touted laws in his State of the State deal with that may expand opportunities for people to have their criminal records for marijuana expunged, permitting individuals who violated phrases of their parole or probation to petition courts to erase these information.

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