A Massachusetts proposal to study the legal and regulatory barriers preventing first responders from using marijuana has advanced in the state legislature.
Senate Bill 76, titled “An Act Relative to Cannabis Use by First Responders,” was approved today by the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy and sent to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means for further consideration.
Sponsored by Senator Julian Cyr (D) and cosponsored by Senator James Eldridge (D), the legislation directs the Cannabis Control Commission to study and report on the challenges surrounding lawful marijuana use by police officers, firefighters, and other first responders in the Commonwealth.
Under the measure, the commission would collaborate with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to evaluate a wide range of issues, including drug testing requirements, internal departmental policies, and the authority of police chiefs under existing law. The study would also analyze potential conflicts with federal laws such as the Controlled Substances Act and licensing regulations, along with reviewing how other states handle marijuana use among public safety employees.
The bill further calls for the commission to research the medical efficacy of marijuana for conditions such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other trauma-related disorders that disproportionately affect first responders. Public hearings and expert consultations would be authorized as part of the process.
A comprehensive report is required to be submitted to the Legislature by December 31, 2026, to the clerks of the Senate and House and several joint committees, including those overseeing public health, public safety, mental health, and the judiciary.
More articles from The Marijuana Herald.
