The NJ Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance and Marketplace Modernization Act was signed into law by Governor Murphy on February 22, 2021, thereby legalizing recreational use of marijuana by adults 21 and over.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey will continue to keep our members updated on this important issue. Our tool kit is currently undergoing revision to provide updated information on policies and procedures related to the law to assist you in maintaining a healthy, safe and drug-free workplace. Further revision will occur in the months ahead when the Cannabis Regulatory Commission sets forth its requirements for employers.

PDFNJ is grateful to Stephen E. Trimboli, esq. of Trimboli & Prusnowski LLC for providing these employer alerts below for our Drugs Don’t Work members.

• New Jersey Supreme Court: Medical Marijuana Costs Are Covered By Workers Compensation

On April 13, 2021, the New Jersey Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Hagar v. M & K Construction.​

• New Jersey Law Now Limits Employer Inquiries Into Marijuana-Related Criminal Histories

On February 22, 2021, as a companion to the “New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act,” Governor Murphy also signed legislation “concerning certain criminal and civil justice reforms, particularly addressing the legal consequences associated with certain marijuana and hashish offenses.”

Bimonthly News Update

• Marijuana Usage and the Workplace – Legalities Clarified

Pot is now legal in New Jersey, but that doesn’t mean that workplace rules and drug tests are going away for everyone.

• Legal Marijuana: What are Your Rights at Work in New Jersey?

The eventual launch of New Jersey’s adult use marijuana marketplace will not give you the right to light up at work

• Drug testing in era of legalized cannabis: Do’s and Don’ts for employers

Here is question-and-answer content on the new rules and regulations:

• At Cape chamber webinar, legal experts seek to clear some of haze surrounding cannabis and the workplace

New Jersey’s brave new world of legal cannabis presents a haze of contradictions, with state and federal rules at odds and local communities scrambling to set policies for new businesses before a summer deadline.

• Philadelphia Set to Ban Pre-Employment Marijuana Testing: What Employers Need to Know

Philadelphia is set to join a small but growing list of jurisdictions (including Nevada and New York City) that prohibit employers from testing prospective employees for marijuana.

• NJ legal weed was overwhelmingly backed by voters; so why are towns banning it?

As municipalities weigh how to handle the nascent cannabis industry setting up shop in the Garden State, a USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey analysis of the November ballot question legalizing marijuana reveals an almost universal message from voters across the state: "historically popular" support. 

• New Quit Genius Survey of U.S. Workers Finds that 38 Percent are Drinking More Alcohol During Pandemic; Over 1 in 4 Remote Workers Have Gone to Work Impaired by Alcohol or Drugs

A survey conducted in March 2021, by Quit Genius of 1,075 full- and part-time workers, found increasing use of alcohol and drugs during the pandemic, especially among those working remotely.

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We encourage you to share this bimonthly news update with your colleagues and business associates to stay informed on the issues regarding establishing and maintaining a drug-free workplace.