Beginning Jan. 31, professional firefighters in Howard County will have access to something most other Maryland adult citizens are already permitted: use of medical cannabis.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball on Friday announced an agreement between Howard County Government and the Howard County International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 2000 to allow County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS) uniformed personnel off-duty usage of medical cannabis. The employees may not use the substance 12 hours before reporting to work, and they must present a valid medical cannabis authorization form to the County’s Office of Human Resources.

The agreement is part of a significant revision of DFRS’s Substance Abuse Policy, which has not changed since 1991. Additional changes include new reasonable suspicion testing standards, expanded post-accident testing, and amendments to the current alcohol testing.

“Our Department of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS) uniformed personnel put their lives on the line to protect and serve Howard County residents and visitors,” Ball wrote in last week’s announcement. “The job is a dangerous one and it comes with an increased risk for cancer, heart and lung disease, and behavioral health conditions, including sleep disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. This policy reinforces our commitment to supporting our members, who display courage, sacrifice, and dedication in order to protect our community.”

Ball feels they can implement the new policy without compromising the safety of either the personnel or the citizens they serve. Brad Klukas, executive representative for Howard County IAFF Local 2000 agrees, and emphasized the importance of maintaining the wellness of firefighters.

“As firefighters and paramedics, our mission is to educate, protect, and serve the residents, members, and visitors of Howard County with professionalism, compassion, and unwavering commitment,” Klukas said in a statement. “This updated policy represents a significant step forward by allowing access to a medication our personnel can use to manage the many physical and mental health conditions that commonly affect our members. We are grateful for the support and collaboration from Howard County in our shared pursuit of maintaining the highest standards of operational readiness through a modern, evidence-based approach to firefighter health and wellness.”

During the 2025 General Assembly’s legislative session, both the Senate (SB 1023) and the House of Delegates (HB1408) introduced legislation protecting firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and other rescue workers from being disciplined for off-the-job medical cannabis use. Neither bill made it through their respective houses.

“We at Howard County Fire & Rescue continue to place the safety and well-being of our firefighters and emergency medical technicians at the top of our priorities,” Howard County Fire Chief Louis Winston said in a statement. “In recent years, endeavors have been made to institute novel carcinogen reduction efforts, enhanced wellness benefits, and comprehensive annual physicals.  From cancer treatment, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain management, we are constantly looking to improve employee welfare.”

“Howard County residents rely on our firefighters and paramedics at times of crisis and emergency, and so it’s important that we step up to revise policies needed to ensure their health and wellness,” Maryland State Senator Clarence Lam said in a statement. “That’s why, as an occupational health physician, I believe this new policy strikes the right balance between the most current science and safety of the public, while ensuring that our county’s fire and rescue workers have access to necessary treatment modalities in consultation with their doctors to address certain serious medical conditions.”

The use of medical marijuana has been traced back to ancient civilizations, and is widely accepted as benefiting patients with pain, nausea, anxiety, PTSD, and more while avoiding the dangers that come with opioids and other prescription drugs. Cannabis has been legal for adult consumers in Maryland for medical use since 2014 and recreational use since 2023.

Ball has prioritized providing DFRS with the funding, staff, and resources it needs to respond to each call for help. In 2019, his administration and DFRS pledged to become one of the first fire departments in the area to have minimum staffing on every piece of fire apparatus they have. In August 2025, Ball announced DFRS is now fully staffed at 589 uniformed personnel.

Baltimore Fishbowl reached out to Professional Firefighters of Maryland for comment, and will update with any response.