San Antonio Firefighters' Tentative Deal Retains Marijuana Testing Despite Pushback

In a tentative agreement reached late Friday night, the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association moved forward on a new labor contract, but not without leaving some important issues unresolved. One point of contention was that the inclusion of marijuana metabolites, also known as tetrahydrocannabinolic acid or THCA, in the department’s random drug testing policy remains unchanged, disappointing many firefighters who had advocated for its removal, reported San Antonio Report.

During the extensive negotiation session, the firefighters’ union withdrew its proposal to exclude THCA, a non-psychoactive compound found in marijuana, from the list of substances tested. Despite the union's efforts, city negotiators refused, ultimately leading to the union’s concession on this issue.

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Most standard drug tests look for the presence of THC, but since THCA transforms to THC through different heating methods, it has different THC metabolites that are detected in a standard drug test.

No Disciplinary Action For Medical Marijuana Use

The tentative agreement that was signed includes a provision that firefighters who test positive for marijuana will not face disciplinary action if they can prove that their use of cannabis is consistent with Texas’ medical marijuana program and does not compromise public safety.

"It's a baby step…in the right direction," said union president Joe Jones. He clarified that the initial proposal to remove marijuana from the list entirely wasn’t about allowing firefighters and paramedics to “get high.”

Instead, it was about enabling them to use cannabidiol (CBD) products, which are legal in Texas, to manage chronic pain, inflammation and other conditions.

The problem is that some of these hemp-derived edibles and topicals are contaminated with other substances, including THCA and THC. These can cause a firefighter to fail a drug test, leading to potential disciplinary actions.

Firefighting Is A Tough Job

"The degradation of the human body in the fire profession is substantial. … Find a firefighter or a paramedic that doesn't have back problems, and you just found a unicorn," Jones said. "We have members who are suffering, and they won't, like me, use the CBD oil because they don't want to [test positive]."

Positive THC tests are "not frequent," Jones added, but at least one firefighter who has a medical marijuana license to use CBD, tested positive for THC earlier this year.

As the contract awaits union ratification and city council approval, the broader debate over marijuana testing in the fire department remains unresolved, leaving many firefighters still seeking a path to relief without risking their careers, noted the outlet.

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Photo of San Antonio Fire Dept. courtesy of City of San Antonio