PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — South Jersey Democrats have sent a letter to New Jersey’s acting attorney general seeking clarification on the issue of law enforcement officers’ use of marijuana in comparison to federal law, now that recreational marijuana sales have become legal in the state.
Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin has told police that it is against state law to punish any employees for engaging in legal marijuana activity, meaning police can smoke pot off duty.
He reiterated that any police officer who shows up to work impaired will be dealt with aggressively.
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The state opened up sales of recreational marijuana from licensed distributors last Thursday.
Senate Majority Whip Troy Singleton and other members of the state Senate and Assembly from South Jersey want further clarification, specifically involving what is permitted under federal law.
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration lists marijuana as a Schedule I substance, which means there is no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. They also list heroin, LSD and ecstasy as Schedule I substances.
Federal statutes state that anyone who uses any Schedule I substances including marijuana is not allowed to possess or receive firearms or ammunition, which is part of the job for law enforcement officers.
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This gray area has police unions telling their members to hold off until the laws are settled.
There have been concerns raised from politicians on both sides of the aisle about the potential dangers allowing people in certain professions to smoke pot, including police, pilots, bus drivers and train operators.
“Would I be open-minded to a legislative fix that addresses this? The answer is yes,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. So far, nothing has advanced through the legislature in Trenton.
KYW Newsradio reached out to lawmakers as well as acting Attorney General Platkin for comment, but as of early Wednesday afternoon, no one had responded to our requests.
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