In Arizona, police aren’t allowed to consume marijuana, recreationally or medicinally, so some of Jacobs’ former colleagues can’t partake like he can. Jacobs thinks more states should follow New Jersey’s lead. Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin reminded law enforcement chiefs recently that the New Jersey law allowing for recreational marijuana permits cops to consume it off duty.
More than 12,000 recreational cannabis customers bought products on April 21, the first day of legal sales in New Jersey. They spent just shy of $2 million, according to the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission. But several mayors and lawmakers are getting behind an effort to bar cannabis use for off-duty police officers.
But marijuana remains classified as a Schedule 1 prohibited drug under federal law. Because of that and because there is no way to determine in the field whether someone is impaired by marijuana, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy say it should be banned for law enforcement.
"Marijuana when consumed stays in your system for 30 days," said John P. Kelly, director of the board of commissioners, "and there are no field tests to determine the level of marijuana intoxication."
The municipality's 120 employees have been notified that if they use marijuana it could lead to their termination, Mayor Keith Kazmark said.
"Regardless of this change in law, the Borough Council and I want to emphasize that all policies and procedures and rules and regulations applicable to the employees of the Borough of Woodland Park will remain the same," Kazmark said.
“You cannot consume marijuana in a motor vehicle,” says Sayreville Police Chief John Zebrowski.
Zebrowski says that driving and consuming cannabis can lead to an impaired driving charge if one is pulled over by a police officer.
“Our officers are educated on seeing the signs and being able to do tests to see if someone is impaired,” Zebrowski says. “Those impairment tests are very similar, if not identical to alcohol.”
On the eve of New Jersey beginning recreational marijuana sales, Jersey City has issued a directive banning all local police officers from marijuana consumption and will fire those caught doing so.
The directive was announced by Mayor Steven Fulop on Twitter today, saying that the city disagrees with new statewide rules and is more aligned with federal standards.
Last week, in a memo to police chiefs and local officials, acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin noted that New Jersey police departments "may not take any adverse action against any officers because they do or do not use cannabis off duty."
Police departments also can't fire or refuse to onboard employees simply due to the presence of cannabinoid metabolites in an officer's body fluids, Platkin added.
New Jersey police officers will be allowed to purchase and consume marijuana once it's officially and legally for sale, just like any other potential customer, under the legal weed laws passed last year.
On Thursday, acting New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin issued a memo alerting police chiefs that law enforcement agencies "may not take any adverse action against any officers because they do or do not use cannabis off duty," which was codified in the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act.