A Hillsborough County judge has sided with a paramedic who was suspended after testing positive for cannabis, ruling that the county must accommodate employees with medical marijuana cards.
Judge Melissa Polo in her ruling said Hillsborough County cannot discriminate against employees using medical marijuana off-site and must provide accommodations unless there’s evidence of use or impairment at work, on county property, or in county vehicles.
The ruling grants Angelo Giambrone, a paramedic with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue since 2008, back pay, compensatory damages, and attorney fees. Giambrone, a medical marijuana patient, was placed on unpaid administrative leave in 2019 after a random drug test revealed cannabis use. Despite presenting his state-issued medical marijuana card, his suspension stood. He sued in 2020 alleging violations of the Florida Civil Rights Act.
The judge ruled Giambrone qualifies as disabled under the Florida Civil Rights Act due to anxiety and sleep disorders. The county is evaluating its next steps following the court’s decision.
