New Jersey Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Gloucester) has introduced a bill to ban NJ police consumption of cannabis.
A 3914 “Permits law enforcement agencies to prohibit recreational use of cannabis items by law enforcement officers” is a six-page bill that does not have a companion in the New Jersey Senate yet.
The bill provides that a law enforcement agency or an appointing authority may discharge from employment or appointment. Or take any adverse action against a law enforcement officer if they consume cannabis.
A law enforcement officer may be subject to adverse action by an employer or appointing authority solely due to the presence of cannabinoid metabolites in the law enforcement officer’s body.
Under the bill, a law enforcement agency may refuse to hire a prospective law enforcement officer due to the use of cannabis items.
NJ police consumption of cannabis has been a topic of controversy in recent weeks.
Governor Phil Murphy (D) said he might be open to it. His acting Attorney General Matt Platkin has not backed down from his position that cops can consume cannabis.
Legalization sponsor and NJ Senate President Nick Scutari (D-Union) has not changed his position opposing such regulations.
Several mayors have taken the initiative to threaten their police officers with dismissal for the consumption of cannabis.
Republican Assemblymembers Edward Thompson (R-Monmouth) and Beth Swayer (R-Gloucester) also introduced a bill. It would permit employers to prohibit the consumption of cannabis by certain employees. There is no copy of the bill they seek to make law yet on the New Jersey legislature’s website yet.
Their bill also does not have a companion in the NJ Senate yet.