Firefighter Zachary Crumley shared his story of being removed from service after using a THC product while having a compassionate use card.
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association held a news conference Thursday claiming a local firefighter was wrongfully terminated.
Firefighter Zachary Crumley shared his story of being removed from service after using a THC product while having a compassionate use card.
Crumley said he was medically cleared for duty but was still pushed out of service.
“The psychiatrist the fire chief sent me to did not find that I was physically or mentally incapable of doing my job,” Crumley said. “He did not identify any actual impairment preventing me from working. He explicitly stated that I had no observed decline in mt job performance. Despite this, I was labeled as unfit for duty.”
According to Crumley, following the evaluation, he was told he could not return to work and that his accrued time off would be used to keep him off the job until he could provide a clean urine sample.
Fire Chief Valerie Frausto provided the following statement:
“The City of San Antonio must ensure that firefighters are not impaired when they respond to emergencies, operate heavy equipment, enter burning buildings or provide medical treatment to residents.”
The City Attorney of San Antonio Andy Segovia said allegations that the city violated any state law or collective bargaining agreement with the union are false:
“The Fire Union’s allegation that the City violated state law or the collective bargaining agreement is false.
During the 2024 collective bargaining negotiations, the City agreed that a THC test result would not be treated as a disciplinary ‘positive’ if a firefighter has a valid Compassionate Use Card. While not treating the compassionate use as a disciplinary matter, the City also made clear that legal use of medical marijuana does not eliminate the City’s obligation to determine whether a firefighter is fit for duty.
That is the issue in this case. This firefighter was not disciplined for having a Compassionate Use Card or for legally using medical marijuana. After the firefighter tested positive for THC and provided proof of a Compassionate Use Card, the City followed its administrative fitness-for-duty process. He was found not fit for duty while using marijuana, allowed to use available leave, granted additional leave without pay, and given opportunities to retest for a ‘negative’ result so that he could return to work. He ultimately exhausted all leave without testing ‘negative.’
Under SAFD policy, an employee who is absent without authorized leave for two consecutive shifts is deemed to have voluntarily resigned. That policy was applied here.
The Union already asked a court to stop the City from placing firefighters on leave when they test positive for marijuana and have a Compassionate Use Card. On May 6, 2026, a Bexar County judge denied that request. The Union has not obtained any order preventing the City from continuing to follow its fitness-for-duty process.
The City respects the collective bargaining agreement. It also respects state law. But neither requires the City to allow unfettered use of medical marijuana by a firefighter in a public safety role. Our first obligation is to the safety of residents, firefighters and the public.”