You can now smoke weed with cops in New Jersey while they’re off-duty

No tolerance during working hours, but uncompromising in your free time!

The AG recently gave the green light to repeal laws prohibiting police officers from using cannabis on and off the job. The latest memo specifically orders that the police chief take no steps to penalize officers who have a habit of consuming cannabis outside of business hours.

However, officers are still prohibited from consuming cannabis while on duty and this part of the law is not about to change any time soon. New Jersey police officers are now seen as the lucky few due to recent changes in law enforcement policy. And all it took was an acting attorney general with progressive plans.

Positive marijuana urine tests

At least five years ago, a positive marijuana urine test at work led to a series of adverse actions by the employer. Today, the corporate world has started to adopt marijuana policies. Most companies now only have penalties if the worker participates in their smoking habit during working hours.

The new policy, spearheaded by New Jersey acting attorney general Mathew Platkin, discloses that positive urine marijuana tests will no longer be grounds for termination of employment. Officials and police chiefs can now indulge in their marijuana-derived drugs without fear of being fired.

According to Police1.com, the state continues to have zero tolerance for intoxication, use, and even possession of marijuana during work hours. A law enforcement officer’s duties are extremely sensitive and require all of their cognitive abilities to be in perfect shape at all times. For this reason alone, the state affirms that it does not condone cannabis use during working hours.

Acting Attorney General Platkin stressed that officers have the right to do whatever they want during their free time as long as they are of legal adulthood (21 years and older). Off-duty officers are advised to use legal cannabis only in reasonable amounts.

Recreational cannabis programs in New Jersey

New Jersey passed its recreational cannabis legislation almost a year ago. Since the law was approved and signed into law, the government and regulatory agency have worked tirelessly to prepare the state for legal cannabis marketing. The outcome of that effort will be announced in a few days, when six medical marijuana dispensaries are expected to begin selling adult-use cannabis to all residents 21 and older.

It may seem like everything is about to change too soon, but these have been in the works for a long time. To date, more than ten medical cannabis dispensaries have obtained licenses or permits to sell recreational cannabis products to all adults, regardless of their medical condition. The state keeps preaching to workers and residents to regulate their marijuana use.

Drug use in the workplace remains a no-no!

The country’s new cannabis policy ensures that employers retain the right to insist on a drug-free workplace, particularly during working hours. Employers can continue their regular procedure for dealing with suspected drug use on or off the work premises, as long as it is not done during working hours.

Platkin’s report mentions that any officers suspected of being intoxicated or possessing recreational cannabis during work hours may be asked to submit to drug tests. The drug tests in this case would include a series of tests to check for the presence of THC in the officer’s system. However, one cannot help but wonder how the agency would be able to differentiate between officers who have used it recently and those who used it weeks ago. The psychoactive ingredient THC can linger in the blood for months.

The public’s opinion on it

Given that this recent change in law enforcement’s cannabis use guidelines affects everyone in the state, Police1 did the next best thing to get the public’s opinion. Police1 reported that the survey results show that a significant number of residents find the new law disruptive.

Some survey results indicated that long-term cannabis use has a number of debilitating effects on users. In other words, allowing officials to use cannabis could put them off their A game.

Police officers are an important part of society and can be called to work on non-working days in emergencies. For example, there are times when officers monitor criminal activity 24 hours a day. So what happens when officers who should be mentally controlled at all times are drunk during life-threatening emergencies?

A group of people thinks the incumbent WG didn’t think it through. To be honest, being high could be disastrous, even off the clock. It is important to note that some respondents think the new laws are not out of place.

Compared to other states

Other states, including New York, have made no changes to their existing law enforcement cannabis use laws. It is absolutely forbidden for any member of the New York Police Department (NYPD), whether in uniform or civilian, to use recreational cannabis of any kind. A few days after marijuana was legalized in the state in 2021, a memo was distributed to let workers know the new changes had nothing to do with them. Federal law still classifies the possession, use, and cultivation of cannabis as a federal offense.

bottom line

New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin’s decision to allow officers who are still on active duty to retain their right to smoke weed outside of business hours is really touchy. The new policy could have far-reaching implications for the entire system. And it can reduce the individual productivity of individuals, departments and the profession itself for months to come.

Since THC can remain in the system for up to 90 days, it is not surprising when an official’s action or decision is questioned. The AG may have good intentions at heart, but the truth is there are endless ways this newfound right can backfire against the department. From now on, the New Jersey Police Department will be under scrutiny by internal and external forces to ensure that the new policy is in the interest of public safety.

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