NJ Association Of Police Chiefs Opposes Recreational Marijuana

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police came out Friday against the idea to legalize recreational marijuana in New Jersey. But they also said they want to find common ground, and want to come up with alternatives to low-level marijuana arrests and incarceration.

Based in Marlton, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, or NJSACOP, is a group that serves to advocate for law enforcement in New Jersey.

"The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police opposes the legalization of recreational marijuana," the group's executive director Mitch Sklar said in a statement released Friday. "The negative consequences related to the adoption of such legislation far outweigh any perceived benefits. Coming at a time when our communities are struggling with the effects of the opioid and heroin epidemic, the members of the NJSACOP believe the legalization of recreational marijuana will further burden our public health care system, increase organized criminal activity, and affect the welfare of our most vulnerable — our youth and adolescent population."

Just this past Tuesday, March 6, lawmakers in Trenton convened the first-of-its-kind public hearing on whether or not New Jersey should legalize recreational weed. No bill has been put forward yet to legalize it, but lawmakers in New Jersey Assembly's Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee said they want to hear from all sides. About a dozen people spoke in favor of legalizing it, and a handful spoke against.

The state police chiefs' association said they think common ground can be found on the hot-button issue.

They say they have formed a group of law enforcement people who are currently gathering input from community leaders and healthcare professionals to review current research on recreational marijuana.

"Our position is that the prudent approach, at this time, is to slow the pace and engage in these discussions," they said. "It is possible to peel back the layers and find consensus on the societal issues that were the original driving force for this issue. NJSACOP acknowledges that alternatives to arrest and incarceration must be included in the discussion."

"More research is required to better understand the long-term effects legalizing recreational marijuana has had in those states where it has been recently legalized," they added. "Our view is that the legalization of recreational marijuana is not the answer."

NJSACOP has weighed in on another topic recently, suggesting to hire retired police officers to work in public schools, to work as class-3 special law enforcement officers (SLEO).

SLEOs can carry guns, but not have the same salary as regular police officers, and are not entitled to health or pension benefits, but still report to local chief of police.

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