By Joanna Putman
Police1
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Jersey City’s Mayor is suing the state over its policy allowing cops to use cannabis off duty, Politico reported.
New Jersey law prohibits all employers from penalizing cannabis use during off-hours, according to the report. But Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop opposes its use by off-duty law enforcement, citing federal law that prevents drug users from using firearms.
Fulop also cited concerns that since cannabis is detectable weeks after it is used, it could damage an officer’s credibility if they were to be investigated.
The suit, filed Oct. 16, seeks to allow the city to penalize police officers if they use cannabis and are required to use a gun as part of their job. It also seeks to block the state from forcing Jersey City to reinstate police officers who were fired in connection to cannabis usage, according to the report.
One opponent of the suit is the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, according to its president Pat Colligan, who called the suit “a waste of taxpayer dollars.”
“This starts with the police officers, but there should be responsible carve-outs for a lot of professions,” Fulop told Politico.