Employment Discrimination - Fire and Rescue Public Safety Employees - Use of Medical Cannabis

HB 1408 prohibits employers from taking discriminatory employment actions against fire and rescue public safety employees who use medical cannabis for a qualifying health condition, as certified by a licensed healthcare provider under Maryland law. The bill amends state disability discrimination protections to explicitly include medical cannabis use for these employees, preventing actions like termination or demotion based solely on off-duty medical use. This applies only when the employee has a valid written certification from a "certifying provider" (e.g., a physician) and uses cannabis in compliance with state regulations. The law specifically targets fire and rescue workers, extending protections previously less clear for this public safety group.