Maryland is taking steps to extend its new medical marijuana employment protections to firefighters and emergency medical personnel who work in the state but reside elsewhere, establishing a registration pathway that will allow eligible nonresident employees to participate in the state’s medical marijuana program.
The Maryland Cannabis Administration has launched an online interest form for out-of-state fire and rescue workers, allowing them to receive notification when a dedicated patient registration application becomes available. The initiative follows the implementation of Senate Bill 439, which took effect October 1 and established new workplace protections for qualifying emergency personnel who use medical marijuana.
Under the law, covered employees are protected from being fired, disciplined or otherwise penalized solely because they hold a valid medical marijuana certification or test positive for marijuana while holding one. The protections extend to employment decisions involving compensation, working conditions and opportunities for advancement.
The Maryland Cannabis Administration’s guidance confirms that employees do not need to reside in Maryland to qualify. Firefighters, emergency medical technicians, cardiac rescue technicians and paramedics employed by qualifying Maryland agencies can participate regardless of whether they live in a neighboring state.
To receive the protections, employees must register with the Maryland medical marijuana program and obtain a written certification from a healthcare provider registered with the state. Workers who already have medical marijuana certifications from another jurisdiction will need a Maryland-issued certification to qualify under the law.
The administration is developing a dedicated registration process for these nonresident employees. In preparation, the new interest form allows workers to submit their names, email addresses, states of residence and employment information. Those who complete the form will be contacted when registration opens.
Officials emphasize that the interest form is intended for notification purposes and does not itself constitute patient registration. Information identifying employees who submit the form will not be disclosed to their employers.
The protections were established through Chapter 183 of Maryland’s 2026 legislative session, signed into law by Governor Wes Moore (D) on April 28. The legislation covers qualifying employees of municipalities, counties, state agencies, the Maryland State Airport Authority and fire control districts.
The law maintains existing workplace safety requirements, including prohibitions on using marijuana while on duty or performing job responsibilities while impaired. Employers also retain exceptions where compliance would conflict with federal requirements or jeopardize federal funding or licensing benefits.
Maryland’s approach provides targeted employment protections for emergency personnel while allowing employers to continue enforcing workplace impairment standards. The new registration pathway is designed to make those protections available to eligible workers throughout the region, including those who commute across state lines.
The Maryland Cannabis Administration has not announced a specific opening date for nonresident registration, but eligible employees can already submit their information to receive notification when applications become available.
