Cannabis ban for cops gains traction

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Apr 18, 2022 View in browser   By Jonathan Custodio Legal cannabis sales in the Garden State are just a few days away, and potential restrictions on usage by law enforcement are gaining traction. Gov. Phil Murphy said at a press conference today that he is open to legislation that would bar police officers from using cannabis while off-duty, reports POLITICO's Matt Friedman. "Would I be open-minded to a legislative fix that would address this? The answer is yes," Murphy said. The comments came after a memo issued by Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin, who was present at the press conference with Murphy, noted that employers could not punish employees for consumption of legally obtained cannabis while they're off the clock. It also said there would be zero tolerance for police officers who are under the influence while on-duty. Multiple state lawmakers pointed out that cannabis can remain in a user's system for a long time, making accurate drug testing difficult. State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) said Friday he plans to introduce legislation to bar off-duty law enforcement officers from using cannabis. Murphy made it clear that officers will face consequences for showing up to work under the influence of any drug. "This will be strictly enforced at both the state police and at every local law enforcement [agency] — county, local, otherwise. There's no allowing anyone to show up impaired," Murphy said. "Whether you're drinking, whether you've smoked weed, whatever the reason, anybody who shows up impaired will be dealt with aggressively." HAPPY MONDAY AFTERNOON — Hi there, I'm Jonathan Custodio, your Playbook PM author. You can send eastern goldfinch photos to jcustodio@politico.com. We're here with the latest from Trenton and elsewhere as New Jersey moves ahead in the budget process and the Legislature conducts hearings on Murphy's spending plan. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY CORRESPONDENTS CANCEL ANNUAL DINNER — New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "The New Jersey Legislative Correspondents Club Showset for May 4 has been canceled. The group cited the recent Gridiron Dinner in Washington as a superspreader event and sluggish ticket sales. 'We have been looking forward to holding our first show since 2019, after two years off due to the pandemic. Ticket sales had been low, though we were hoping that interest would pick up as the show date got close,' the club said in an email on Saturday. 'However, the recent data and Gridiron experience showed, unfortunately, that was not going to happen.'" STATE TROOPERS — Officials want to have two classes of State Police troopers to help bolster head count, Murphy, Platkin, and State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan announced today. More than 100 troopers will be eligible for retirement by October and another 108 will be eligible in 2023. The governor says he wants to fund the additional class through $4 million from the federal American Rescue Plan and through an additional $5 million in state funds. — Katherine Landergan COVID NUMBERS — New Jersey saw a marked drop in Covid-19 cases. The state reported four deaths from the virus and 901 confirmed positive tests on Monday after a weekend of religious holidays that included Easter and Passover, the first time the number dipped below 1,000 since April 4. However, the seven day-average, 1,691 cases, is still 19 percent higher than a week ago and 161 percent higher than a month ago. ON THE BEATS ENVIRONMENT — State Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn LaTourette announced the launch of $10 million lakes management grants program that will focus on improving conservation and recreation at the state's public lakes and mitigating stormwater and runoff pollution. The money will be used to fund projects from any entities, including local governments, lake commissions, and nonprofit organizations working to manage publicly accessible bodies of water, with applications due by May 28. Projects that will be considered for funding include areas like stormwater management infrastructure, lake watershed protection plans, and restoration or improvement of water quality. "Investments such as rain gardens or stormwater improvements to restore and protect natural resources in our watersheds help protect communities from damaging storms, reduce the impacts of climate change that are favorable to harmful algal blooms and improve water quality," LaTourette said in a statement. Around New Jersey "School start time should be left up to local districts, say critics of NJ legislation," by The Record's Mary Ann Koruth: "New Jersey legislation that proposes a state-wide later school start time would not be ideal for all, say some educators who are advocating for the decision to be left up to local districts. Students who participate in afterschool activities and sports or have part-time jobs would be at a disadvantage with the later start, some educators said, especially during the shorter days of winter. Some argue the change also won't be ideal for those parents who have to drop off their children at school on their way to work. The bill introduced last month by Senate Education Committee Chair Vin Gopal and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, proposes requiring all New Jersey public high schools to start later in the morning to benefit students' mental health. The bill proposes later start times, but no later than 8:30 a.m beginning with the 2024-25 academic year." "N.J. Herald ends Monday print newspapers," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "The New Jersey Herald, once a vibrant daily newspaper in providing valuable coverage of local news to the people of Sussex County and northwestern New Jersey, will stop printing Monday newspapers late this month. The N.J. Herald is the latest Gannett-owned newspaper to reduce the number of days they print newspapers. Most of New Jersey's Gannett properties ended Saturday print editions and deliveries last month. The N.J. Herald had not printed Saturday newspapers in years. The North Jersey newspaper appears to have been disemboweled by the struggling Gannett organization since they acquired the nearly 200-year-old newspaper in 2019." "As motels shut down across the Jersey Shore, where will homeless residents go?" by Asbury Park Press' Jean Mikle : "The Aquarius Motel is gone, soon to be replaced by eight new homes. Right down the street, the Mark III motel is for sale, while a short distance away, the Belmont Motel is scheduled to meet the wrecking ball, with 14 homes planned for its site. A hot real estate market has led owners of small motels to cash in and sell their properties, not just in Seaside, but all over the Jersey Shore. While towns welcome the new residential development, its created issues for those seeking shelter for residents experiencing homelessness." "More nurses graduate, but hospitals still short-staffed," by NJ Spotlight News' Brenda Flanagan: "As students graduate from nursing schools this May, the health care industry still faces a troubling staff shortages. Thousands of nurses — traumatized by the pandemic — are expected to retire this year, further widening the gap between supply and demand. And while more students are applying to nursing schools, the schools are facing a critical faculty shortage." Odds and ends — Some NJ Transit train cars could become "mask only," similar to the system's quiet cars.  — Heading back to the office? It's a complicated question for many New Jersey commuters and businesses.  — A 6-year-old boy from Weehawken won a Grammy award. —  Metuchen residents will be asked to approve a bond issue to carry out "once-in-a-lifetime" improvements to the borough's schools.    Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  California Playbook PM  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  New York Playbook PM View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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