There was a fierce debate on the Maryland Senate floor over a bill that would let firefighters and rescue workers use medical cannabis while off-duty.The discussion became so intense that they postponed a full Senate vote until Friday as some legislators voiced concerns over public safety.Cannabis stays in your system for days. There’s also no standard measure to determine impairment.Firefighters and rescue workers endure extreme physical and psychological stress on the job, often getting hurt.”From a resting heart rate, they are awoken by a loud bell and gong. Now, a resting heart rate is a maximum heart rate. They are now going to perform that job in 80 to 90 pounds of gear in a super-heated environment that is highly stressful and chaotic,” said Dan Shaw, a public safety consultant.Medical experts said injured firefighters and other emergency response workers often use opioids to ease their pain. Many want to use medical cannabis instead.Baltimore County Sen. Carl Jackson, D-District 8, is the sponsor of a bill that shields registered medical cannabis users from being disciplined or even fired for using it off-duty.”What inspired it was the firefighters who had come forward because of their dependency on using opioids,” Jackson said.The legislation sparked fierce debate on the Senate floor. Opponents mentioned that medical cannabis users would be on the job with cannabis still in their system.”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,'” said Frederick County Sen. William Folden, R-District 4. “I need really sharp responses. I need these people to be very keenly aware.”Opponents also pointed out there is no standard measure to determine impairment, but supporters fired back.”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,” said Howard County Sen. Clarence Lam, D-District 12.The legislation allows for employers to develop their own cannabis use policies. Howard County, for example, requires a 12-hour separation between medical cannabis use and returning to work.”They could be fired now if they are found to have impairment due to cannabis and things of that nature,” Jackson said. “The bill is to prevent discrimination against cannabis use.”The vote was laid over until Friday, which will also give the sponsor time to research whether fire truck drivers will have to undergo urine testing.The Maryland Association of Counties and the Maryland Association of Firefighters oppose the bill.It passed the Senate last year but died in a House committee. This year, the House postponed a hearing on the measure until next week.