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Firefighters, union and experts urge Howard County to allow access to medical cannabis while off duty
Summary
Representatives of IAFF Local 2000, firefighters and medical cannabis experts told the Howard County delegation they support HOCO 19-25 as amended to protect firefighters using state-legal medical cannabis from discipline based solely on positive toxicology for THC metabolites and to favor performance-based impairment testing over urinalysis.
Firefighters, union leaders and outside experts told the Howard County delegation that HOCO 19-25 — a proposed local measure to protect firefighters who use state-authorized medical cannabis while off duty — should be amended to prevent disciplinary actions based only on positive toxicology for THC metabolites and to favor impairment-based evaluation.
“We are not advocating for impairment on the job nor does this bill allow that,” Matt Johnson, second vice president of IAFF Local 2000, said during testimony representing more than 500 Howard County firefighters and lieutenants. “This bill simply adds cannabis to the list of lawful medications for which a firefighter may be prescribed, nothing more, nothing less.”
Johnson told the panel that…
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