Big Spring Firefighter Fired for Gummies, Fights Back with Lawsuit

BIG SPRING, TX — A 20-year firefighter with the City of Big Spring claims he was fired for using legally prescribed cannabis gummies to treat PTSD — and now he’s suing the city and its fire department in federal court.

Michael Adams, a former lieutenant with the Big Spring Fire Department, filed the lawsuit May 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He alleges disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, and retaliation in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Texas labor law.

According to the complaint, Adams developed post-traumatic stress disorder after years of responding to grisly emergency scenes, including dismembered bodies and child fatalities. To manage his symptoms, Adams said he used cannabis edibles prescribed for off-duty use — never during work hours.

After disclosing his prescription to Fire Chief Jay Holt in February 2024, Adams was allowed to complete his shift but was then suspended and ultimately fired. The city never claimed he was impaired at work, the suit states, and a state unemployment office later found the city lacked just cause for the termination.

Adams argues the city violated his rights by failing to accommodate his disability and firing him solely because of his medication. He is seeking back pay, front pay, emotional distress damages, and punitive damages.

A jury trial has been requested. The City of Big Spring had not filed a response as of Friday.