Maryland Senate Delays Vote on Bill Allowing Firefighters to Use Medical Cannabis Off-Duty

Fierce debate over public safety concerns leads to postponement of full Senate vote until Friday.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Maryland Senate has delayed a vote on a bill that would allow firefighters and rescue workers to use medical cannabis while off-duty. The discussion became heated, with some legislators voicing concerns over public safety and the lack of a standard measure to determine impairment. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Carl Jackson, says it is meant to prevent discrimination against medical cannabis users, as many firefighters turn to opioids to ease job-related pain. The vote has been postponed until Friday to allow more time for research, particularly on whether fire truck drivers would need to undergo urine testing.

Why it matters

This debate highlights the ongoing tensions between accommodating medical cannabis use and ensuring public safety, especially for first responders who operate in high-stress, high-risk environments. The outcome of this legislation could set a precedent for other states considering similar policies.

The details

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Carl Jackson, would shield registered medical cannabis users from being disciplined or fired for using it off-duty. Supporters argue this would provide an alternative to opioids for firefighters and rescue workers who often suffer injuries and chronic pain due to the physical demands of their jobs. However, opponents raised concerns about having emergency personnel on the job with cannabis still in their system, citing the lack of a standard impairment test. The legislation allows employers to develop their own cannabis use policies, with some jurisdictions, like Howard County, already requiring a 12-hour separation between use and returning to work.

  • The Maryland Senate postponed a full vote on the bill until Friday, March 8, 2026.
  • The bill passed the Senate last year but died in a House committee. This year, the House postponed a hearing on the measure until next week.

The players

Sen. Carl Jackson

The Democratic senator from District 8 in Baltimore County is the sponsor of the bill that would allow firefighters and rescue workers to use medical cannabis while off-duty.

Sen. William Folden

The Republican senator from District 4 in Frederick County voiced concerns about having emergency personnel on the job with cannabis still in their system, saying he needs "really sharp responses" and people who are "very keenly aware."

Sen. Clarence Lam

The Democratic senator from District 12 in Howard County argued that supervisors can be trained to gauge impairment, and that the bill allows employers to develop their own cannabis use policies.

Dan Shaw

A public safety consultant who described the extreme physical and psychological stress that firefighters and rescue workers endure on the job.

Maryland Association of Counties

An organization that opposes the bill allowing firefighters to use medical cannabis while off-duty.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“What inspired it was the firefighters who had come forward because of their dependency on using opioids.”

— Sen. Carl Jackson (wbal.com)

“So, my concern is I get some guy and I'm having heart issues, and my heart issues go crazier because some dude sits down next to me and says, like, 'Yo man, relax, I'm going to take care of you.' I need really sharp responses. I need these people to be very keenly aware.”

— Sen. William Folden (wbal.com)

“There are incidents where supervisors have to go through reasonable suspicion training, right? I've led some of these as well, where you're training supervisors to be able to gauge whether someone is impaired or not.”

— Sen. Clarence Lam (wbal.com)

What’s next

The full Senate vote on the bill has been postponed until Friday, March 8, 2026, which will also give the sponsor time to research whether fire truck drivers will have to undergo urine testing.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing medical cannabis use with public safety concerns, especially for first responders who operate in high-stress, high-risk environments. The outcome of this legislation could set an important precedent for other states considering similar policies.