IL Department May Remove Marijuana Testing for Firefighters

The current contract proposal between the City of Springfield and its firefighters would allow them to join other city workers to no longer be tested for marijuana during routine drug screening.

The firefighter’s union requested parity with other city employees who are no longer tested for marijuana as they renegotiated their contract according to News Channel 20.

While marijuana would be removed from testing if the contract is ratified, other drugs currently being screened for would continue.

Fire officials said between five and eight firefighters are randomly selected for drug testing, usually about six times per year.

Alderman Joe McMenamin raised concern about the proposal calling it a “real dangerous precedent.”

"I think we need a complete no-tolerance rule, because marijuana usage is incompatible with the types of duties that are performed by first responders," McMenamin said.

Chief Blough expressed confidence in his workforce and didn’t feel this would be, “something that we have to worry about on a large basis.”

Firefighters involved in an accident would still be subject to drug testing according to city officials.