Bill > HB1408

This bill provides employment protections for fire and rescue public safety employees who use medical cannabis, specifically prohibiting employers from discriminating against these employees based on their possession of a valid medical cannabis written certification or testing positive for cannabis components or metabolites. The bill defines fire and rescue public safety employees as firefighters, emergency medical technicians, cardiac rescue technicians, or paramedics employed by municipal corporations, counties, the state, the state airport authority, or fire control districts. Employers are still allowed to maintain policies that prevent employees from performing duties while impaired and can prohibit cannabis use within 12 hours of reporting for work. Importantly, the protections do not require employers to take actions that would violate federal law or cause them to lose federal benefits. The bill provides a specific exemption that allows employers to maintain workplace safety standards while recognizing the medical use of cannabis by these critical public safety workers. The legislation is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, giving employers and employees time to understand and implement the new protections.

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https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1408?ys=2025RS