Md: Support medical cannabis employment protections for firefighters and EMTs!

Maryland legislators have another opportunity to pass protections for first responders who use medical cannabis. Senator Carl Jackson’s SB 439 would protect firefighters and paramedics from losing their jobs solely for testing positive for cannabis or its metabolites. The bill is being heard in the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, February 19, and we need as much support as possible to get protections for frontline workers across the finish line! 

If you live in Maryland, make your voice heard, and let lawmakers know you want 2026 to be the year Maryland passes protections for first responders!

It is unfair for our fire and rescue employees to be denied the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis. Testing positive for cannabis metabolites does not mean a person was impaired — metabolites stay in one’s urine for up to a month. 

First responders put their lives on the line for us, and many develop chronic pain or PTSD from their public service. They should not lose their jobs for alleviating their symptoms and choosing a safer alternative to opiates or alcohol consumption.