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SB 1023

Employment Discrimination - Fire and Rescue Public Safety Employees - Use of Medical Cannabis

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Carl Jackson

Maryland bill protecting fire/rescue workers from employment discrimination based on legal medical cannabis use while maintaining impairment testing standards.

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Bill Summary · SB 1023

Legislative bill overview

SB 1023 prohibits Maryland from disqualifying fire and rescue public safety employees from employment based solely on their use of medical cannabis authorized under state law. The bill establishes protections for workers with valid medical cannabis prescriptions, aligning employment policies with Maryland's medical cannabis program while maintaining safety standards through impairment testing.

Why is this important

As medical cannabis becomes legally recognized in Maryland, conflicts arise between state cannabis law and federal employment restrictions, particularly in safety-sensitive positions. This bill addresses whether employers can automatically exclude otherwise qualified workers who legally use prescribed cannabis, affecting hiring practices and worker protections across emergency services statewide.

Potential points of contention

  • Federal law conflict: Fire and rescue agencies may face tension between state protections and federal requirements (federal employees cannot use cannabis regardless of state law), creating compliance uncertainty
  • Impairment standards: The bill likely requires impairment testing rather than presence-only testing, but establishing reliable impairment benchmarks for cannabis remains scientifically and legally contested
  • Public safety concerns: Opponents may argue that emergency responders in life-critical roles need stricter restrictions than other workers, despite medical authorization

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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