Landmark Nevada Vote Reforms Police Hiring Rules on Cannabis Offenses
- Nevada officials have approved a proposal that allows candidates previously disqualified for certain marijuana-related offenses to be eligible for law enforcement positions. This is after the state’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training voted to revise regulations that disqualified individuals convicted of offenses related to controlled substances.
- The revised language specifies that the restriction doesn’t apply to individuals convicted of cannabis-related offenses if the conduct is no longer unlawful at the time of their application for certification as a police officer. This aims to increase the pool of candidates for law enforcement positions and fill critical roles without incurring additional costs. However, it doesn’t permit officers to use cannabis once employed, maintaining the current no-tolerance stance on cannabis use.
- The recent regulatory reform raises questions about whether the agency will maintain its prohibition on marijuana usage in the policing profession, even for off-duty or medical use. This follows a 2019 case where a Las Vegas police officer was terminated for testing positive for THC metabolites and a 2021 district judge ruling that deemed the zero-tolerance policy for cannabis as “untenable.” The decision acknowledged that state statute protects employees’ lawful use of marijuana outside of work.
Nevada authorities have voted to change police officer hiring standards, permitting previously disqualified cannabis-offenders to apply for law enforcement positions.
Nevada officials have endorsed a proposition to revise police officer recruitment criteria, making applicants previously disqualified for certain marijuana-related crimes eligible for law enforcement positions, as reported by Marijuana Moment.
The state Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) backed the change, modifying regulations disqualifying individuals convicted of unlawful use, sale, or possession of controlled substances.
The updated wording specifies the exclusion doesn’t apply to persons convicted of cannabis offenses, if the act is now lawful at the time of their application for police officer certification. This intends to widen the eligible candidate pool for law enforcement roles and aid agencies in filling key vacancies cost-efficiently.
While the change’s approval permits previously disqualified candidates to apply, it doesn’t authorize officers to use marijuana once employed. This decision signifies noteworthy policy transformation, given the agency’s administration manual’s current zero tolerance on cannabis use.
The current POST administration manual underscores the ban on marijuana usage in the police work, even off-duty or for medicinal purposes. This regulatory reform leads to queries about the agency’s future stance on such policies.
This move comes after a 2019 case where a Las Vegas officer was dismissed for testing positive for THC metabolites. In 2021, a district judge ruled the zero-tolerance policy as unsustainable, recognizing the state statute protects off-duty lawful use of marijuana by employees.
In recent times, Nevada has revised various marijuana laws, including increasing personal possession limits and extending business license eligibility for individuals with former felony convictions.
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