Bill would ban marijuana from off-the-clock police, first responders, truck drivers, and heavy equipment operators
State Assemblyman Larry Wainstein and state Sen. Brian Stack introduced a bill with the exceptions.
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Should police, first responders, heavy equipment operators and truck drivers be banned from using recreational marijuana in their free time?
A bill introduced by a pair of Hudson County lawmakers would do just that.
Since 2022, anyone of legal age can walk into a dispensary in New Jersey and buy marijuana products. That law was tested in Jersey City, when the city banned police from using marijuana on or off duty. Two officers fired for using marijuana off the clock sued and won.
State Assemblyman Larry Wainstein and state Sen. Brian Stack introduced a bill with the exceptions.
"Whatever policy gets enacted by the Legislature and signed by the governor is almost never a completed project," said John Wisniewski, a former New Jersey legislator.
The bill would prohibit police, first responders, CDL drivers or heavy equipment operators from using recreational pot.
RELATED: Jersey City police officers fired for using recreational marijuana file 2nd lawsuit
Wisniewski says that the bill will be difficult to get passed because no test currently exists to show marijuana impairment like alcohol breathalyzers.
"It's going to run into some significant legal hurdles," he said. "This is an issue that is going to have to wait, maybe, for the science to catch up."
Both bills introduced last month were referred to public safety committees. New Jersey State PBA president Pete Andreyev says an officer's professional standards on duty should not come at the expense of their lawful rights when off duty.
"Any change should be grounded in public safety needs, not assumptions or unnecessarily broad restrictions on the lawful conduct of New Jersey's police officers," said Andreyev.
Wisniewski says the bill would still have to clear two committees, a floor vote and an approval by Gov. Mikie Sherrill to become law, but it's worth following.
"Whether you're a recipient of emergency services or a provider of emergency services, this will affect a large group of people in the state. It's also important to understand how your elected officials are handling them, arguing about them, and voting about them," he said.
News 12 reached out to both lawmakers for further comment but had not yet heard back.
