By Rodd Cayton, City Desk ABQ
Bernalillo County firefighters now have a therapeutic option available to many other county employees.
County commissioners Tuesday night approved a change to the memorandum of agreement between the county and the local firefighters union that removes cannabis from the list of substances tested for in random drug screenings.
Union leaders and County Manager Cindy Chavez said they will work together in good faith should the new policy run afoul of the New Mexico Department of Transportation.
County staff say the transportation department could theoretically determine that Bernalillo County Fire ambulances violate random testing rules for motor carriers, leading to the loss of the fire department’s motor carrier license under NMDOT.
Staff have said the risk is small, given the NMDOT’s ambiguity on the issue. The fire department brought in close to $1 million in ambulance billings last year.
Vice Chair Adriann Barboa said the decision gives a way for employees who spend substantial time around trauma and tragedy a way to deal with their anxiety without relying on alcohol, which she said continues to destroy New Mexicans’ lives. She praised her colleagues for making a commitment to a healthier workforce.
Miguel Tittmann, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 244 County Chapter, said commissioners have taken a step that will improve the lives of firefighters into the future.
He said the cannabis rule is another tool available for anxiety, PTSD, pain management, sleep deprivation and other maladies common to firefighters. Tittmann said Bernalillo County is the first government in New Mexico to take the step, which he said was a decision that required courage.
Board Chair Eric Olivas, who sponsored legislation to treat cannabis the same as alcohol, said he was pleased that the county took leadership on the issue.
“We’re standing behind the people that stand up for us,” Olivas said.
The original legislation, applying to most county employees, passed in December.