LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The union representing the Louisville Fire Department has filed a lawsuit against Metro Government arguing firefighters should be allowed to use medical marijuana in accordance with a new state law.
According to the suit, during collective bargaining negotiations last year, both parties agreed employees would not be disciplined for using medical cannabis as long as they weren’t using it on the job.
“It was communicated to rank-and-file members that Louisville Metro would treat medical marijuana the same way it treated any other prescription medicine,” the union argued.
The lawsuit said after the agreement was voted on and ratified, Fire Chief Brian O’Neill emailed the entire department saying Louisville Metro would “continue to prohibit the use, possession, consumption, or sale of marijuana by employees.”
On Friday, Union President Jeff Taylor, who sent WHAS11 a copy of O’Neill’s email confirming the directive, said “my members can’t be denied a therapeutic product that’s perfectly legal to participate in just because they’re uncomfortable.”
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The union argues Metro Government made a “complete reversal” of its assurances made during bargaining. It’s asking a judge to grant a temporary injunction — to put the Fire Department’s medical cannabis policy on pause — until a hearing is held.
WHAS11 reached out to the Jefferson County Attorney’s office, which represents Metro Government. A spokesperson said they’re not going to discuss pending litigation, and ‘will respond via the court.’
“Products like this help a firefighter go to sleep, get some rest, recover, so they can come back and do the job two days later,” Taylor said.
It comes as just weeks into 2025, Kentuckians are grappling with what it means to have a legal medical marijuana program statewide for a product that’s still illegal on a federal level.
In a proposed bipartisan resolution, Kentucky lawmakers are calling on Congress to amend federal law to allow those who qualify to use cannabis for medical reasons to still be able to purchase and own a gun, protecting their Second Amendment rights. They say the “conflict” between federal gun restrictions and medical cannabis laws has created “confusion, inconsistency, and unnecessary legal risks for individuals.”
Meanwhile, the Louisville Professional Firefighters Association Local 54 is now asking a judge to allow firefighters to use medical marijuana to treat qualifying medical conditions without discipline.
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