Cannabis Legalization: How Policy Challenges and Evolving Legislation Impact Police Employees

Sunday, October 20, 2024

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ET

Location: 205A

Submitter(s)

Katrine Malakhova

Policy Manager
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
Alexandria, Virginia, United States

Speaker(s)

Cherie Burgan

Captain
Egg Harbor Township (NJ) Police Department
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, United States
Thomas Dellane

Undersheriff
Ocean County (NJ) Sheriff's Office
Rachel Huggins

Deputy Director
Ontario Provincial Police
Matthew Myers, MS, MPA

Assistant Chief of Police
Peachtree City (GA) Police Department
Peachtree City, Georgia, United States
Ronal Serpas

Professor/Chief of Police (Ret.)
Loyola University New Orleans

Agencies across the globe are navigating changing legislation efforts regarding cannabis. This panel discussion provides insight as to how the IACP Policy Center developed guidance for police leaders in their efforts to establish agency policy for hiring personnel with a history of cannabis use as well as considerations regarding use by agency employees, where cannabis has been decriminalized. As this panel will discuss how we created the guidance, agencies should always reference local laws and consult with their legal advisor before implementing any aspect of the proposed guidance. The goal of this panel discussion will be both to inform police leaders of the development process of IACP policy guidance and to highlight some of the challenges police leaders are facing regarding cannabis legalization and lessons learned as a result.