New Jersey
NJ legal weed OK for off-duty police officers, per law
TRENTON – New Jersey cops shall be allowed to buy and eat marijuana as soon as it is formally and legally on the market, similar to some other potential buyer, beneath the authorized weed legal guidelines handed final 12 months.
On Thursday, performing New Jersey Lawyer Normal Matthew Platkin issued a memo alerting police chiefs that legislation enforcement companies “could not take any hostile motion towards any officers as a result of they do or don’t use hashish off responsibility,” which was codified within the New Jersey Hashish Regulatory, Enforcement Help, and Market Modernization Act.
Law enforcement officials are barred from possessing or utilizing marijuana whereas on the clock, or performing any work whereas beneath the affect.
“To be clear, there ought to be zero tolerance for hashish use, possession or intoxication whereas performing the duties of a legislation enforcement officer,” Platkin mentioned. “And there ought to be zero tolerance for unregulated marijuana consumption by officers at any time, on or off responsibility, whereas employed on this state.
“The protection of our communities and our officers calls for no much less.”
Platkin’s memo comes three days after the New Jersey Hashish Regulatory Fee authorised 13 medical marijuana dispensaries to start promoting authorized weed to any grownup over 21 years previous, even these with no medical marijuana card.
Authorized weed gross sales cannot start till a location has been inspected and issued a license. That is but to happen at any of the 13 dispensaries.
Till these gross sales happen, New Jersey stays in a grey space: Marijuana is authorized to own and eat, however it’s unlawful to purchase or promote. That hasn’t stopped many marijuana customers over the past 14 months.
Extra NJ marijuana: Pot sellers discover their means within the ‘grey market’
The marijuana legalization legal guidelines permit any employer to keep up a drug-free office, and places into place procedures for suspected drug use whereas on the job.
Platkin’s memo reminds police chiefs they’ve the identical rights.
“Ought to there be affordable suspicion of an officer’s use of hashish whereas engaged within the efficiency of their duties, or upon discovering any observable indicators of intoxication associated to hashish use (together with following a work-related accident topic to investigation by the company), that officer could also be required to bear a drug check,” Platkin mentioned.
However that drug check should accompany a bodily examination as properly, as tetrahydrocannabinol — or THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana — can keep within the bloodstream for weeks.
A constructive drug check may imply the police officer smoked a joint on the way in which to the station, or ate a cannabis-infused gummy at an off-duty barbecue a month in the past.
NJ authorized weed legal guidelines change drug check guidelines
However not like different jobs, legislation enforcement officers are topic to federal laws as properly. And marijuana continues to be unlawful on the federal degree, even medically.
In September 2011, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issued a memo overtly stating that firearms licenses can’t be issued or bought to any “illegal person of or hooked on any managed harmful substance,” even when that individual is a card-carrying medical marijuana affected person of their house state.
For the previous decade, regulators in quite a few states have pointed to that ATF memo as the explanation cops could not turn out to be medical marijuana sufferers.
Leisure marijuana use, in states that legalized weed, has been seen as falling beneath the identical tips.
However the federal firearms statutes do embody an exception for firearms “issued for the usage of the USA or any division or company thereof or any state or division, company or political subdivision thereof.”
The ATF didn’t instantly return a request for remark or clarification.
Mike Davis has spent the final decade overlaying New Jersey native information, marijuana legalization, transportation and a little bit little bit of every thing else. He is gained a couple of awards that make his dad and mom very proud. Contact him at mdavis@gannettnj.com or @byMikeDavis on Twitter.
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New Jersey
How Atlantic City’s discarded oyster shells are helping the New Jersey oyster population
![How Atlantic City’s discarded oyster shells are helping the New Jersey oyster population](https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/07/02/c46e0400-215b-4fa9-944e-96a9334053e9/thumbnail/1200x630/f79e0bbcbb0bb54221b089c0a447f17c/goldner-vo-oyster-shell-planting-0702-bg-frame-430.jpg?v=57e8061b2038d609da26e467de5ddfb8)
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS) — Ever wondered where the shells of the oysters eaten in Atlantic City end up?
It’s not a landfill. Instead, they’re returned to the place they were first scooped up.
And now, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection plans to expand its program to recycle oyster shells after receiving more than $1 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Shell Recycling Program works by collecting used oyster shells from restaurants and casinos in Atlantic City before transporting them to a barge. Using high-powered water cannons, crews spray the shells off the barge into the Mullica River.
NJDEP fisheries biologist Scott Stueber said oysters need a hard base, like shells, to survive, and without enough shell, they can die.
Recycling oyster shells instead of throwing them away, Stueber said, helps New Jersey’s oyster population thrive.
“These are juvenile oysters all over a previously recycled oyster shell,” Steuber demonstrated. “So, you can see that’s one single shell with countless oysters all over it.”
This year, the NJDEP is expected to recycle more than 250 tons of oyster shells collected by restaurants and casinos, including from the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa.
“It’s really important to give back, not just to the community, but to the sea as well,” Deborah Pellegrino, executive director chef at the Borgata, said. “We respect food that we bring in. We know where it comes from and that we want to give back so that we can keep the food populated for the environment.”
New Jersey
New Jersey counties explore new strategies for roadway safety as fatalities rise
![New Jersey counties explore new strategies for roadway safety as fatalities rise](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AP646576487926.jpg)
NEW JERSEY (WPVI) — Various counties across New Jersey are exploring new strategies to make highways and roadways safer during the busy summer season.
This comes after multiple fatalities have been reported on roads in the area.
“Every one of these tragedies could be avoided,” said Lt. James Rosiello of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
He said reckless behavior on the road is leading to deadly consequences at an alarming rate from drivers to pedestrians to cyclists.
“One of our biggest problems is impaired driving, like alcohol use and illegal drug use and prescription medication use,” said Rosiello. “In addition to that, reckless speeds, aggressive driving, and general inattention.”
As for pedestrians, Rosiello said people are crossing in the wrong area, wearing dark clothes, or not paying attention.
He also said 28 people lost their lives from vehicle crashes in Atlantic County during the first six months of 2024, compared to 15 last year.
Our 6abc data journalism team found White Horse Pike had the most fatal crashes in Atlantic County in 2024.
Rosiello said neighboring areas are seeing similar trends, with Camden County reaching 24 deaths and Burlington County reaching 23 deaths.
“It’s scary,” said Matthew Deveglio from Gloucester City. “The White Horse Pike in a lot of places – it’s terrible.”
“We see people driving with their heads down,” said Mark Jay from Lawnside. “They’re not paying attention. They’re going over the speed limit and a lot of distracted drivers.”
In May, a New Jersey American Water worker died after a woman crashed into a work zone on White Horse Pike in Magnolia, Camden County.
Jay, a Lawnside firefighter, responded to the scene.
“Stuff like that humbles you because it could be you,” said Jay. “You’re leaving your house, and you never know, it might be your last time you’re leaving your house.”
The prosecutor’s offices in Camden and Atlantic counties are increasing their efforts to make sure residents return home, especially as summer travel ramps up.
With the help of federal grant money, both teamed up with local police departments to conduct more DWI patrols and checkpoints, provide education to drivers and students, and discuss ways to make roads safer.
Rosiello offered advice for those behind the wheel and on foot.
“Everyone is in such a rush nowadays, trying to do so much at once, that people just need to slow down and take a little bit of extra time to get from point A to point B,” he said.
Rosiello also encouraged people to use ride-sharing services if they’re impaired.
If you have any questions or ideas for road safety, contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
New Jersey
These N.J. towns ranked among top 150 for most expensive homes in U.S.
![These N.J. towns ranked among top 150 for most expensive homes in U.S.](https://www.nj.com/resizer/v2/77ODWSDFFJAIHL3MXBQWOCNK74.jpg?auth=72139af6ba8180e2df2ffd3be367b8b38b2a4a1e5937db1cccc5b25cba221159&width=1280&quality=90)
Eight New Jersey towns ranked in the top 150 for most expensive homes in the nation, according to the latest data from Zillow.
The towns on the list had typical home values of more than $1.9 million.
Deal, a Jersey Shore borough near Asbury Park, ranked 25th in the nation, with a typical home value of $3.65 million as of May.
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