BACK TO YOU.
>> NOT THINKING ABOUT IT,
JANICE.
THANKS.
>>> NEW JERSEY’S SECOND LARGEST
CITY IS DUJ DOUBLING DOWN ON ITS
LEGAL BATTLE AGAINST COPS USING
MARIJUANA.
CITY OFFICIALS ARE NOW FILING A
FEDERAL LAWSUIT TO KEEP OFFICERS
FROM USING LEGALIZED POT.
NOT ON DUTY BUT OFF DUTY.
NEWS 4’S ADAM HARDING EXPLAINS
WHY.
>> Reporter: A BATTLE OVER COPS
AND CANNABIS IN JERSEY CITY NOW
HEADED FOR THE COURTS.
>> I THINK ANY REASONABLE PERSON
WOULD SAY THAT THERE SHOULD BE
CARVEOUTS WITH RESPECT TO
SPECIFIC PROFESSIONS.
>> Reporter: THE CITY’S MAYOR,
WHO’S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR,
ANNOUNCING TODAY A NEW FEDERAL
LAWSUIT AIMED AT KEEPING
OFFICERS FROM LIGHTING UP.
LOCAL LEADERS POINT TO A
DECADES-OLD FEDERAL LAW THAT
PREVENTS ANYONE WHO USES A DRUG
LIKE WEED FROM POSSESSING A GUN.
THE COMPLAINT READS, "IT IS YONT
DISPUD THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS EMPLOYED BY THE JERSEY
CITY POLICE’S DEPARTMENT MUST
POSSESS AND RECEIVE A FIREARM
AND AMMUNITION IN ORDER TO BE A
POLICE OFFICER.
BUT SUCH AN INDIVIDUAL CANNOT DO
SO WITHOUT COMMITTING A FELONY
UNDER FEDERAL LAW."
>> THERE IS NO WAY FOR A POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS KNOW IF SOMEBODY
INGESTED OR CONSUMED
CANNABIS-RELATED PRODUCT ONE
HOUR, ONE WEEK, OR THREE WEEKS
PRIOR TO THEIR SHIFT.
>> Reporter: THE LAWSUIT COMES
AS FIVE OFFICERS FACE
TERMINATION FOR THEIR ALLEGED
USE OF MARIJUANA WHILE THEY WERE
OFF DUTY.
CIVIL LEADERS SAY THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION WANTS THEM
BACK ON THE FORCE.
>> WE TOLD OUR POLICE OFFICERS
DO NOT USE CANNABIS EVEN IF IT’S
LEGAL BECAUSE IT WILL THREATEN
YOUR EMPLOYMENT AS A POLICE
OFFICER.
FIVE OF OUR OFFICERS CHOSE TO
EVEN AFTER RECEIVING THIS
NOTICE, THEY CHOSE TO USE
CANNABIS, AND AS A RESULT WE CAN
NO LONGER ARM THEM OR PROVIDE
THEM WITH AMMUNITION.
>> Reporter: THE CITY SAYS THEY
OFFERED THE OFFICERS NEW JOBS
THAT DON’T REQUIRE THE USE OF A
GUN.
ALL SAID NO.
IN A STATEMENT THE ATTORNEY
REPRESENTING THEM SAYS IN PART,
"JERSEY CITY SEEKS TO ENFORCE A
FEDERAL STATUTE THAT HAS BEEN
RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL BY AT
LEAST FIVE FEDERAL COURTS.
WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION’S RULINGS
WILL BE UPHELD."
>> THEY BELIEVE SO STRONGLY IN
THEIR POSITION, THEY WOULD HAVE
FILED THIS LAWSUIT 18 MONTHS AGO
AFTER THE SALES OF LEGALIZED
CANNABIS BEGAN.
>> Reporter: AND WE’VE REACHED
OUT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S
OFFICE TONIGHT FOR COMMENT.
IN THE PAST THEY’VE SAID THERE
SHOULD BE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ANY
OFFICERS TO USE UNREGULATED
MARIJUANA AT ANY TIME ON OR OFF