There has recently been a lot of proposed legislation and updates with Atlantic City law regarding marijuana. It is important that you are aware of these laws, especially if you enjoy using cannabis. There is a very good chance that this legislation will have a direct impact on you in one way or another.
Legal Status of Cannabis in Atlantic City
As of right now, only those who have a valid medical marijuana card can legally purchase this substance in Atlantic City. There are a number of dispensaries that have popped up across the city and other parts of the state in the last couple of years.
In 2010, now former governor Jon Corzine signed the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act into law. This allowed people with certain medical conditions to get access to cannabis for the purpose of getting relief.
While recreational marijuana is not yet legal in New Jersey, many believe that it will be in less than a year. With an increasing number of states deciding to legalize or decriminalize cannabis, this wouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.
There are a number of medical conditions that are accepted for someone who wants to get a medical marijuana card. Those who have problems with glaucoma, insomnia, anxiety, cancer, chronic pain, migraines, terminal illness, and other conditions can get approved.
Upcoming Recreational Marijuana Proposal
In November of 2020, there will be a proposed amendment that would make recreational marijuana legal if it passes. Those who advocate for the legalization of marijuana in New Jersey are very excited about this news.
There was a similar proposal in 2019, but it ended up getting shot down. The 2019 proposal was for regulating recreational marijuana and expanded medicinal marijuana. It would have made it legal for anyone over the age of 21 with a valid ID able to buy cannabis in Atlantic City and other parts of New Jersey. If straw polls are any indication, it seems as though this proposal has a good chance of going through come November.
Courts Say that Federal Law Doesn’t Prevent Marijuana Reimbursement
The New Jersey courts recently made a landmark decision involving an employee of a construction company who filed for worker’s compensation. He purchased medical marijuana to cope with pain stemming from the injury he sustained while on the job.
The man’s employer was ordered to reimburse them for the money they spent on the medical marijuana. The courts determined that the employer was not in violation of the Controlled Substances Act, which is a federal law. This is due to the fact that the employer doesn’t need to distribute, manufacture or possess marijuana to do reimburse employees in this type of scenario.
This decision by the courts attracted a lot of attention due to the growing friction between the federal and state governments over marijuana. It has set a precedent that will undoubtedly be referenced by attorneys many times in the coming months and years.
Drug Testing
Back in July of 2019, the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was amended to change the procedure of how positive marijuana drug tests are handled by employers. While these tests are not prohibited, employers do have to provide employees with written notice of the test results.
They also have to give them an opportunity to prove a medical reason for testing positive. This new legislation didn’t go quite as far as some other states, but many consider it to be a step in the right direction. In some states across the U.S., employers are actually not legally allowed to prevent the hiring of someone who tests positive for marijuana.