You will soon be able to go into a store in New Jersey and purchase marijuana cookies, brownies, or a bag of pot to smoke. But businesses are still unclear about the rules and regulations that will be in place for their employees.

Angelo M. Valente, the executive director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, said the legalization of recreational marijuana does not mean somebody will be allowed to show up high on pot and impaired at their job.

Smoke pot on your break

If someone smokes a joint on their break during the workday, and they seem to behave normally, will that be considered acceptable?

Canada To Become The Second Country To Legalize Marijuana
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“I think there’s a lot of unanswered questions that employers have with regard to how the legalization of marijuana will play out in the workplace,” said Valente.

As far as people getting the boot from work for getting high, he said “I don’t think they can be fired for using marijuana as long as it’s not done during work hours. However, I think these are some of the unanswered that we might be looking for answers for.”

Some jobs won’t permit any marijuana use

Valente noted while New Jersey state law will permit the sale and use of marijuana, you won’t be able to enjoy pot if you are employed in certain types of jobs.

“If an employer has federal contracts, or if they’re guided by federal rules and regulations, for example, commercial driver’s licenses have to still have testing in place,” he said.

He noted if someone has a painful condition that is treated with the use of medical marijuana “I think those are the kind of situations where accommodations may be made by an employer but of course, this is done on a case by case basis.”

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He said it’s important to get these kinds of questions answered sooner rather than later.

Businesses preparing for marijuana use

“Certainly we want to make sure we have a safe workplace for employers and employees and customers, and that always has to be in the forefront.”

Valente added employers need to make sure they are proactive and stay up to date as rules and regulations are developed.

“The use of marijuana will be something that employers and employees will be addressing and dealing with, and it’s important that they become knowledgeable about what that means for their particular workplace,” he said.

New Jersey’s decriminalization law allows people to possess up to 6 ounces of marijuana without any legal consequences.

Additional regulations pertaining to the sale and use of recreational marijuana could be forthcoming in the next month or two.

You can contact reporter David Matthau at David.Matthau@townsquaremedia.com.

The Ultimate Guide to New Jersey Brewpubs

From the website that gave you the "Friendliest bars" and places to watch the game, comes the ultimate guide to New Jersey brewpubs.

So what's a "brew pub"?

According to Thompson Island's Article on the differences between a craft brewery, microbrewery, brewpub & gastropub, it says:
 
"A brewpub is a hybrid between a restaurant and a brewery. It sells at least 25% of its beer on-site in combination with significant food services. At a brewpub, the beer is primarily brewed for sale inside the restaurant or bar. Where it's legally allowed, brewpubs may sell beer to go or distribute it to some offsite destinations."

New Jersey has tons of Brewpubs, some of which have been around for years and some that have just opened in the past year.

Here is a full list of the 21 brewpubs in New Jersey according to New Jersey Craft Beer:

Where everyone knows your name: Friendliest bars in NJ

Update: NJ arrests in Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot

A year later, more than 20 people from New Jersey have been charged with involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

 

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