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AND BY POLITICO'S "NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK," A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS, ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM ♪♪ >>> EARTH DAY, THE ONE DAY A YEAR WHEN WE'RE COLLECTIVELY REMINDED THAT WE ARE MESSING UP OUR PLANET.

HI, EVERYBODY, IT IS "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ, JOINED EACH WEEK BY THE SHARPEST TOOLS IN THE JOURNALISTIC TOOL SHED, INCLUDING THIS WEEK, COLLEEN O'DAY, SENIOR WRITER AND PROJECTS EDITOR FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, MICHAEL HILL, HOST OF "MORNING EDITION" ON WNYC, AND SEAN SULLIVAN, REPORTER WITH NJ ADVANCED MEDIA.

WE'LL HEAR FROM THEM IN JUST A BIT, BUT LET'S START TODAY BY CELEBRATING EARTH DAY WITH A FRANK DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO SAVE THE PLANET WITH A GUY WHO DOES HIS BID FOR MOTHER EARTH, ONE VOTER AT A TIME, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW JERSEY LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS, ED.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MAN.

WELCOME.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

HAPPY EARTH DAY.

>> SO, ANOTHER EARTH DAY, ANOTHER CHANCE TO TELL EVERYONE THAT THE PLANET IS, A, DOOMED, B, ON THE BRINK, OR C, STILL SALVAGEABLE.

>> IT'S PROBABLY A MIXED BAG.

I THINK THIS EARTH DAY, THERE'S A LOT TO BRAG ABOUT HERE IN NEW JERSEY, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FOR OUR STATE CALLED THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, JUST 52 YEARS AGO ON THE SAME DAY, EARTH DAY WAS FOUNDED, AND SINCE THEY'VE GOT STARTED, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A CELEBRATION IN LIBERTY STATE PARK THIS COMING START.

THEY'VE EXCELLED AT RESTORING OUR OPEN SPACES AND PROTECTING AND PRESERVING THEM, AND THEN TWO RECENT ACTIONS, I THINK, WE'RE ALL AWARE, A BILL TO HELP PROTECT US FROM PLASTIC POLLUTION IN OUR STREAMS AND OCEANS AND ONE FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO -- TO BE PROTECTED FROM AIR POLLUTION AND HARMFUL EFFECTS OF POLLUTION AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF INDUSTRIALIZATION BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THERE'S STILL MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE, DANGEROUS LEVELS OF AIR POLLUTION AND GREENHOUSE GASES WHICH ARE CAUSING CLAIMANT CHANGE AND THE FLOODING, THE DEVASTATION WE SAW WITH HURRICANE IDA, RECKONING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM, UNDOING UNJUST POLICIES, CLEANING UP CONTAMINATION FROM OUR DRINKING WATER.

TOXIC WASTE SITES IN NEW JERSEY AND THE THING WE ALL SORT OF GET FRUSTRATED AROUND IS THE OVERDEVELOPMENT AS OUR COMMUNITIES AND DWINDLING FORESTS ARE FOREVER CHANGED WITH, YOU KNOW, HOMES AND STRIP MALLS AND OTHER KINDS OF THINGS.

AND I WOULD JUST NOTE THAT FOR ALL OF US ACROSS NEW JERSEY, WE'RE IMPACTED BY THESE THINGS, BUT PARTICULARLY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, THE EFFECTS ARE GREATER, AND A GREATER CHALLENGE BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE PILE-ON OF, YOU KNOW, INDUSTRIALIZATION AND POLLUTION.

>> YEAH.

BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR, TELL FOLKS WHAT THE LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS DOES.

I SAID YOU WERE SAVING THE PLANET ONE VOTER AT A TIME.

WHERE DO CONSERVATION AND VOTERS INTERSECT IN YOUR MISSION?

>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION.

SO, FOR US, AT NEW JERSEY LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS, WE REPRESENT DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, AND INDEPENDENTS WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND IN NEW JERSEY, THAT IS A VERY LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

AND WE WORK TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON POLICIES THAT WILL PROTECT OUR AIR, OUR WATER, AND OUR LAND.

WE HELP TO ELECT LEGISLATORS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS THAT WILL STAND UP TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT TO THE PRESSURES OF DEVELOPERS AND POLLUTERS THAT ARE ALWAYS KIND OF COMING AT US FROM DIFFERENT PLACES.

WE'RE THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED STATE, AND SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO AHEAD OF US TO PROTECT OUR BEAUTY AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND THEN, WE WORK WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS TO HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT POLICIES NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED SO THAT WE CAN TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME FOR SOME OF THE BAD THINGS WE'VE DONE AND PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE REMAINING FOR THOSE KIDS AND GRANDKIDS.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO, THE GARDEN STATE, THAT'S US.

WHERE ARE WE DOING BETTER, AND WHERE ARE WE DOING NOT SO WELL?

PARTICULARLY WHERE ARE WE DOING NOT SO WELL?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'VE GOT CHALLENGES IN OUR AIR POLLUTION.

I THINK THAT'S ONE AREA WHERE CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE FLOODING THAT WE'RE SEEING KIND OF INTERSECTS AND WE HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTORS IS ACTUALLY TRANSPORTATION.

ABOUT HALF OF THE GREENHOUSE GASES AND THE COPOLLUTANTS THAT GO WITH IT, THAT CAUSE ASTHMA AND CANCER, COME FROM US DRIVING AROUND IN CARS AND FOSSIL FUEL VEHICLES.

OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT BUSES.

AND WE CAN DO BETTER.

IN FACT, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WITH THEIR BUILD BACK BETTER PROPOSAL, $555 MILLION TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND REDUCE THOSE TOXINS.

IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG STEP FOR US.

ON TOP OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT WAS JUST PASSED.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO MORE.

WE NEED TO ELECTRIFY EVERY SINGLE PUBLIC BUS.

WE NEED TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES TO HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, MEDIUM DUTY VEHICLES LIKE THE AMAZON AND U.P.S.

AND FedEx TRUCKS AND THEN ALSO FOR US TO HAVE A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK THAT'S PUBLIC, ACCESSIBLE, AND AFFORDABLE FOR ALL FAMILIES.

AND THAT WILL DO A LOT TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH, PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND I SAY THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL IS OUR CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT IN OUR STATE FOR OUR ECONOMY THAN RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE, CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE LAND THAT NATURALLY CLEANS IT UP AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT HOMES AND BUSINESSES ARE NOT PLAGUED BY ANY EMERGING CONTAMINANTS LIKE SORT OF FOREVER CHEMICALS OR THE LEAD THAT LINES SERVICE LINES IN ALL TOO MANY PLACES AND WE CAN HELP MAKE THOSE REDUCTIONS AND INCREASE OUR ECONOMIC VITALITY.

A LOT OF THIS HAS COME TO NEW JERSEY BECAUSE WE HAVE AFFORDABLE, CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND THAT'S MANUFACTURING LIKE PHARMACEUTICALS AND WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THAT.

>> SO WE HAVE A PROGRESSIVE GOVERNOR WHO TALKS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

TO PARAPHRASE AN OLD ED KOCH LINE, HOW'S HE DOING?

>> WELL, I THINK HIS FIRST TERM WAS A -- REALLY A WHIRLWIND OF ACTION AND WE'RE SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THAT WITH THE BUILDING OF THE OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY AND THE GOOD LOCAL JOBS IN THE GREEN ECONOMY THAT ARE COMING WITH IT.

WE'RE SEEING THE SIGNING OF WIND MANUFACTURING RIGHT IN NEW JERSEY, THE SOUTHERN PART OF OUR STATE, AND I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE THAT AS THE WINDOWS ARE BEING BUILT AND THAT CLEAN ENERGY IS BEING BROUGHT INTO OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES AND THE REDUCTIONS IN THE POLLUTION THAT WILL ALSO BE A BENEFIT.

THERE, I GUESS, IN THE LONG-TERM, SOME OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE HAPPENING AND WE'RE COMING OUT WITH A REPORT CARD NEXT WEEK ON THE GOVERNOR'S FIRST 100 DAYS.

>> I CONFESS TO THINKING THERE WAS A PLASTIC BAN IN EFFECT BUT IT TAKES EFFECT MAY 4th.

IS THAT REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN?

HAVE AN IMPACT?

>> OH, IT'S A HUGE IMPACT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR HEALTH, AND THE HEALTH OF OUR PLANET, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO US, AS HUMAN BEINGS.

I THINK FOLKS CAN THINK OF THIS A LOT ABOUT, LIKE, SAVING THE AMERICAN EAGLE.

WE HAVE HUMAN PROBLEM AND WE CHOSE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

NEW JERSEYANS USE 4.4 BILLION PLASTIC SINGLE-USE BAGS A YEAR.

WE CUT DOWN 1,300 FOOTBALL FIELDS OF TREES TO SATIATE OUR PAPER BAG NEEDS AND THIS BAN GOES INTO EFFECT ON MAY 4th AND THE SOLUTION TO OUR PLASTIC POLLUTION PROBLEM THAT'S MAKING ITS WAYS INTO OUR WATERWAYS AND OCEANS IS IN YOUR TRUNK.

IT'S IN YOUR CLOSET.

IT'S THE REUSABLE BAGS YOU HAVE.

PLEASE BRING THEM TO THE STORE WITH YOU.

IT'S GOING TO BE A SHIFT FOR ALL OF US.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT.

AND TOGETHER, WE CAN REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT.

TOO MUCH OF THE FOOD WE EAT, THE AIR WE BREATHE, AND THE WATER WE DRINK HAS PLASTIC IN IT AND IT'S COMING FROM ONE PLACE, AND THAT'S US.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO REDUCE THAT, AND PROTECT OUR HEALTH, PREVENT CANCER, AND YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE PLASTIC POLLUTION ON OUR BEACHES, MOST OF THE POLLUTION ON OUR BEACHES IS PLASTIC.

AND THIS WILL HELP REDUCE THAT.

>> I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THESE RETAIL -- THE ONLINE RETAILERS, AMAZON, WHO, YOU KNOW, I GET GROCERIES AND STUFF FROM THEM.

THERE'S SO MUCH WASTE IN THE DELIVERIES FROM THESE BIG RETAILERS.

ARE THEY UNDER ANY KIND OF REGULATIONS LIKE THAT?

>> THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WE CAN BE DOING BETTER WITH PACKAGING.

FOLKS SHOULD BE RECYCLING THOSE.

ACTUALLY, JOHN HAS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT REDUCES, IF IT WERE PASSED, EXCESSIVE PACKAGING, SO YOU GET A SMALL ITEM IN A BIG BOX WITH ALL THOSE PLASTIC THINGS FILLED WITH AIR AROUND IT.

THAT WOULD HELP TO ADDRESS THAT.

CURRENTLY, IT'S REALLY UP TO CONSUMERS TO MAKE CHOICES WITH THEIR WALLETS AND DECIDE WHERE THEY SHOP AND IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO SUPPORT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ED, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW JERSEY LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS, HAPPY EARTH DAY, MAN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> YOU TOO AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT, PANEL, LET'S GET YOU IN HERE, COLLEEN, SEAN, MICHAEL.

I THINK THE PLANET IS DOOMED, SEAN, I GOT TO BE REALISTIC.

IS THE PLASTIC BAG BAN GOING TO SAVE THE WORLD OR AT THE VERY LEAST BE EFFECTIVE IN NEW JERSEY?

>> I THINK THAT IT IS AT THE VERY LEAST THE LEAST WE CAN DO.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS HAD A REALLY LONG RUNWAY IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY HAPPENING, AND SO THERE AREN'T VERY MANY THINGS THAT COME OUT OF TRENTON THAT ARE THIS WELL EXECUTED, I THINK.

IN TERMS OF THE STAGGERING IN REQUIREMENTS, IN TERMS OF CARVEOUTS FOR SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH REGARDS TO PAPER BAGS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- IT'S AN ADJUSTMENT I MADE IN MY OWN LIFE YEARS AGO, AND YOU KNOW, DO I STILL FORGET FROM TIME TO TIME AND THEN GET STADALLED WITH A PLASTIC BAG?

YES.

BUT YOU KNOW, NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THE STROLL BACK TO MY CAR, WHICH I THINK IS THE LITERAL LEAST I COULD DO.

>> RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

EARTH DAY AND 4/20 AND THE LAUNCH OF LEGAL CANNABIS IN NEW JERSEY.

THAT'S SOME AGE OF AQUARIUS PLANETS IN ALIGNMENT RIGHT THERE.

I KNOW YOU PREFER A NICE BOTTLE OF WINE BUT ANY REFLECTIONS ON THE HUBBUB THAT'S BEEN GOING ON OVER LEGAL WEED THIS WEEK?

>> IT SEEMS THAT AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE WERE THRILLED BY THIS.

I GUESS I SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING THE BLACK MARKET TO GET WEED FOR DECADES, BUT CERTAINLY SEEMED LIKE AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE WERE VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS OUT IN THE OPEN.

AND DO IT LEGALLY.

>> YEAH.

MICHAEL HILL, WE LIKE TO THINK, AND HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE, THAT THIS IS ABOUT SOCIAL EQUITY AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE MOST AFFECTED BY THE SO-CALLED WAR ON DRUGS.

BUT SO FAR, ALL WE SEE IS BIG WEED DEALING INSIDE WITH POLICE PROTECTION OUTSIDE.

WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT, AND HOW LEGAL CANNABIS WILL IMPACT THE CULTURE OF NEW JERSEY, DO YOU THINK?

>> YOU KNOW, MY SON WENT TO ONE OF THE LEGAL WEED STORES YESTERDAY, AND BOUGHT SOME RECREATIONAL WEED, AND HE CAME BACK AND TOLD US THAT MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES HE SAW INSIDE WERE BLACK.

MY QUESTION WAS, DO BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE OWN ANY OF THAT BUSINESS?

AND THE OTHER IRONY, HE SAID, WAS THAT AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE WERE SO MANY POLICE OFFICERS OUTSIDE AND THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE HOLDING WEED AS THEY WERE GOING UP AND TALKING TO POLICE OFFICERS.

SO, IT CERTAINLY SEEMS THERE'S PROGRESS ON THAT FRONT, BUT IF THIS IS PARTLY ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE, I THINK NEW JERSEY STILL -- AND NEW JERSEY VOTERS, NEW JERSEY CONSUMERS ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE JUST HOW MUCH SOCIAL JUSTICE THIS IS.

I CERTAINLY AM.

I WANT TO KNOW WHO OWNS THESE DISPENSARIES, AND WHETHER THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE MOST DISPROPORTIONATELY DISADVANTAGED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS, IF THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE AN ECONOMIC PIECE OF THIS PIE.

>> SEAN, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GOT SOME BLOWBACK LAST WEEK AND ALL THIS WEEK WHEN HE ADVISED COPS THAT THEY COULD CONSUME CANNABIS OFF-DUTY.

SOME MAYORS SAY THEY'LL FIRE COPS WHO CONSUME OFF DUTY, SOMETHING ABOUT FEDERAL GUIDELINES THAT STILL CONSIDER CANNABIS A SCHEDULE ONE DRUG.

IS THAT WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THERE ARE QUESTIONS HERE THAT ARE BOTH KIND OF PRACTICAL AND ALSO LEGAL.

THE PRACTICAL QUESTION BEING, HOW DO YOU TEST -- THE TESTING FOR MARIJUANA.

YOU CAN TELL WHETHER SOMEONE HAS SMOKED MARIJUANA IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, BUT YOU CAN'T -- BUT IT DOESN'T DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN IF THEY'VE DONE IT IN THE LAST TWO HOURS.

SO THAT'S CLEAR TO THE PRACTICAL PROBLEM THAT THE DEPARTMENTS ARE DEALING WITH.

AND THEN THE LEGAL PROBLEM IS JUST WHAT YOU REFERRED TO, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STILL TREATS THIS AS A PROHIBITED SUBSTANCE, AND SO TECHNICALLY, IF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SMOKES MARIJUANA, I MEAN, TECHNICALLY, ANYBODY WHO'S GOING TO GET A FIREARM LICENSE, YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO ATTEST IN SOME WAY THAT THEY DON'T USE ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES, AND SO FOR POLICE OFFICERS, THAT CREATES A REAL PAPERWORK PROBLEM.

AND YOU KNOW, ANYBODY WHO'S REGULARLY USING CANNABIS IS TECHNICALLY DISQUALIFIED FROM THE FIREARMS PERMITTING.

AND SO YOU HAVE JERSEY CITY AND OTHER CITIES SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ABIDE BY THIS.

BUT YOU KNOW, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LEGISLATIVE FIX UNLESS THEY WANT TO FIGHT THIS OUT IN THE COURTS.

>> I MEAN, THIS IS KIND OF A LOADED QUESTION, BUT THERE'S NO SUCH RESTRICTIONS ON ALCOHOL, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, BUT THERE ARE TESTS THAT CAN TELL YOU WHETHER SOMEBODY'S SHOWING UP DRUNK ON THE JOB.

THAT'S REALLY THE ISSUE HERE.

IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE -- THAT THEY WANT TO TREAT THESE SUBSTANCES AS DIFFERENT, THOUGH I'M SURE THERE IS SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, AND SOME LEADERSHIP THAT JUST HAS KIND OF OLD-SCHOOL ATTITUDES TOWARDS MARIJUANA, BUT YOU KNOW, IT DOES CREATE A PRACTICAL HURDLE, ONE THAT FRANKLY THE LEGISLATURE COULD HAVE CONTEMPLATED AND APPARENTLY DID NOT AND SO NOW YOU HAVE THE GOVERNOR SAYING THAT HE'D BE OPEN TO A CARVEOUT FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT DOESN'T SEEM TOO KEEN ON THAT SO IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHERE THE SOLUTION FOR THIS IS GOING TO COME.

IN THE MEANTIME, I'VE TALKED TO THE HEAD OF ONE OF THE PBAs HERE AND HE SAID, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS JUST ADVISING FOLKS TO WAIT AND SEE.

DON'T JEOPARDIZE YOUR JOB RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU'RE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

UNTIL THE COOLER HEADS PREVAIL, I GUESS.

>> YEAH.

COLLEEN -- >> YEAH, JUST WANT -- >> GO AHEAD, COLLEEN, THEN MICHAEL.

>> THE LEGISLATURE, VERY CLEARLY, WHEN THEY WROTE THE LAW, MADE IT PLAIN THAT AN EMPLOYER CANNOT FIRE OR CANNOT DISCIPLINE AN EMPLOYEE WHO USES LEGAL MARIJUANA OR CANNABIS WHILE NOT ON THE JOB, BUT AS SEAN POINTS OUT, THERE'S REALLY NO TEST RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD TELL WHETHER YOU'RE USING IT ON THE JOB, OFF THE JOB, SO CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THE FIREARM PART IS DEFINITELY A SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT THE LEGISLATURE CLEARLY WANTED TO MAKE IT SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO USE IT AND NOT FACE CONSEQUENCES FROM EMPLOYERS.

SO, I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT'S ALL GOING TO WORK OUT.

>> I GUESS IN WRITING THE MEMO, THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OR JUST MADE SOME POINT THEY MAY COME TO THE DEFENSE OF POLICE OFFICERS IN THESE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS AND SAY, WE ISSUED THIS MEMO AND YOU AS THIS CITY, YOU, AS THIS LOCAL ATTORNEY, YOU CAN'T FIRE THESE OFFICERS, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE ULTIMATE SAY ON POLICE OFFICERS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN NEW JERSEY.

I'D BE CURIOUS TO SEE.

>> I MEAN, THIS IS A MEMO, NOT A COMING FROM THE A.G., SO I THINK THIS WAS HIM TRYING TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THAT ISSUE AND SAY, LOOK, IF YOU DO FIRE THESE PEOPLE, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME LEGAL LIABILITY ON YOUR HANDS.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE A.G.'S OFFICE IS TYPICALLY IN THE HABIT OF CIVILLY REPRESENTING COPS WHO ARE FIRED FOR WHAT THEY SEE AS NOT CAUSE.

I THINK THIS IS THEM WARNING THEM, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A LAWSUIT ON YOUR HANDS IF YOU FIRE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR HIS BEHAVIOR OFF DUTY.

>> AND JERSEY CITY'S MAYOR AND THE BALEN MAYOR HAVE SAID THEY'LL FIRE COPS AND THE CITY COUNCIL IN NEWARK IS URGING THE MAYOR TO IMPOSE A SIMILAR RESTRICTION SO MY GUESS IS THAT'S GOING TO BE ADJUDICATED AT SOME POINT GOING FORWARD.

COLLEEN, YOU HAD AN EXCELLENT PIECE ON THE STATE'S CANNABIS LAWS, THE DO'S AND DON'T'S AND THE CAN'S AND YOU CAN'T'S.

WHAT'S A COUPLE OF THINGS WE SHOULD KNOW BEFORE WE GO OUT AND BUY OUR YUMMY OREO KUSH COOKIES?

>> AS, AGAIN, AS SEAN POINTED OUT, FEDERALLY, THIS IS STILL A CONTROLLED, DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE, SO WE'RE ALREADY KIND OF IN THIS CRAZY POSITION WHERE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT THE FEDS DON'T WANT BUT MANY OTHER STATES ARE.

SO, THE BIGGEST CONFUSION, I THINK, IN NEW JERSEY IS THAT LEGALLY, YOU CAN GO TO THE DISPENSARY OR, YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE ARE MORE PLACES TO BUY IT, AND BUY ONE OUNCE.

BUT YOU CAN POSSESS UP TO SIX OUNCES WITHOUT BEING CHARGED.

YOU CANNOT BE ARRESTED.

YOU CAN'T BE FINED OR CITED FOR HAVING UP TO SIX OUNCES.

DITTO WITH DISTRIBUTION UP TO AN OUNCE, WHICH SOME WILL ARGUE IS NOT A LOT OF WEED.

BUT -- SO, IF YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND YOU'VE GOT YOUR FIVE OUNCES AND AN OFFICER STOPS YOU, YOU REALLY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU BOUGHT THAT LEGALLY OR IN THE BLACK MARKET.

IT'S JUST -- IT'S CONFUSED A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WE'VE HEARD FROM, BUT IT'S GOOD FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW, IN FACT, THAT IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK IN THE DISPENSARY AND BUY A SECOND OUNCE, TAKE THAT HOME WITH YOU, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU CAN.

>> SUPPOSE AN OFFICER IN THE CASE OF COLLEEN IS TALKING ABOUT, AN OFFICER IS STOPPING A CAR, AND THE WINDOW GOES DOWN AND THE OFFICER SMELLS MARIJUANA IN THE CAR, IS THE OFFICER GOING TO ASK FOR SOMEONE'S RECEIPT WHO MAY HAVE BOUGHT MARIJUANA?

I MEAN, HOW'S THAT GOING TO WORK?

>> IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT ALLOWED ANYMORE.

THEORETICALLY.

YOU KNOW, UNDER THE LAWS THAT WE PASSED, THERE WAS A LEGALIZATION LAW AND A DECRIMINALIZATION LAW LAST YEAR.

UNDER THOSE LAWS, JUST THE ODOR OF MARIJUANA DOES NOT GIVE POLICE THE RIGHT TO EVEN SEARCH YOUR CAR OR TO ASK ABOUT IT, TO DO ANYTHING THERE.

I SUSPECT THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF THESE CASES THAT ARE GOING TO WIND UP GOING TO COURT BECAUSE THESE THINGS WILL KEEP HAPPENING.

ALTHOUGH POLICE HAVE HAD THESE GUIDELINES NOW FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, ACTUALLY.

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON, MICHAEL, REPUBLICANS IN NEW JERSEY ARE JOINING THE NATIONAL TREND OF ASSAULTING CURRICULUM IN LOCAL SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY OVER SEX ED AND LGBTQ ISSUES.

DEMOCRATS SEEM TO HAVE CAVED ON IT OR BLINKED AT LEAST BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR ORDERED A REVIEW OF THE STATE'S SEX ED STANDARDS AND SENATOR GOPAL IS PROPOSING A BILL TO GIVE PARENTS MORE INFO ON CURRICULUM, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, BUT THIS WHOLE CONTROVERSY SMELLS LIKE A MEDIA STRATEGY ON THE PART OF THE REPUBLICANS.

DO YOU GET THAT SENSE?

>> IN A POLITICAL STRATEGY, TOO, BECAUSE YOU WILL GET PEOPLE TO WAKE UP AND PAY ATTENTION WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT SEX CURRICULUM AND ORIENTATION AND SO FORTH IN SCHOOLS, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE YOUNGER GRADES.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE GOING TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY OVER ISSUES SPECIFICALLY LIKE THIS.

SO, IT'S NOT JUST A CULTURE WAR.

IT'S A POLITICAL WAR AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

AND THE REPUBLICANS, COLLEEN, SEEM TO HAVE -- OR DID THEY MAKE THE DEMOCRATS BLINK HERE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE REPUBLICANS DID, REALLY, WAS USE SUGGESTED OR MODEL CURRICULUMS THAT WERE SUGGESTED BY OTHER OUTSIDE GROUPS.

THESE ARE NOT CURRICULUM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THAT ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD ADOPTED.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, DAVID.

THEY CERTAINLY USED THIS, I THINK, AS MICHAEL POINTED OUT, IT DEFINITELY IS SOMETHING THAT THEY THINK CAN HELP THEM IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

IN THIS CASE, IT DOESN'T HELP THE STATE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE BRINGING THIS UP, BUT IT CERTAINLY WOULD HELP THOSE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

WE'VE GOT A FEW DISTRICTS THAT ARE VERY, VERY CLOSE AND IN A MIDTERM YEAR WHEN THE DEMOCRAT IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, AND INFLATION IS AT, YOU KNOW, 40-YEAR HIGHS, I WOULD SAY I WOULD THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP REPUBLICANS TAKE BACK SOME OF THE SEATS THEY LOST A FEW YEARS BACK.

>> YEAH.

SEAN, THE STORY OF THE CLARK MAYOR AND THE RACIST RANTS AND RECORDINGS AND WHISTLE-BLOWING AND REDACTED MEMOS, IT JUST KEEPS ON GIVING.

WHAT'S THE LATEST OVER THERE?

>> YEAH, IT'S -- SOME FOLKS HAVE TOLD ME THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THE GOVERNMENT IN CLARK IS CONDUCTING A CLINIC ON HOW NOT TO ADDRESS A SCANDAL.

THIS IS, YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUE, RILEY YATES AND I OBTAINED RORGDS OF THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE BRASS USING SOME VERY VILE AND ANTIQUATED RACIAL SLURS, TALKING ABOUT BLACK RESIDENTS, DENIGRATING FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS, AND INITIALLY, THE MAYOR COMPLETELY DENIED TO US THAT HE HAD EVER SAID ANY OF THESE THINGS AND HE HAD NO RECOLLECTION WHATSOEVER, BUT AFTER WE PUBLISHED THEM, YOU HAD PEOPLE SAYING, THAT'S HIS VOICE ALL RIGHT, AND SO THEN HE ISSUED A HEARTFELT APOLOGY, BUT AS, YOU KNOW, RESISTED CALLS TO RESIGN.

SO, EARLIER IN THE WEEK, I WAS AT THE FIRST TOWN COUNCIL MEETING WHERE SORT OF A PARADE OF ANGRY RESIDENTS CALLED HIM A BIGOT TO HIS FACE AND CASTIGATED THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL FOR APPROVING A $400,000 SETTLEMENT THAT AT LEAST AT FIRST KEPT THESE RECORDINGS A SECRET.

BUT TO A LARGE PART, I THINK THIS ALSO POINTS TO SOMEWHAT OF THE NATIONALIZATION OF LOCAL POLITICS BECAUSE YOU HAVE A SIX-TERM REPUBLICAN MAYOR AND THE FEW DEFENDERS OF HIS THAT WERE AT THE COUNCIL MEETING THAT I SPOKE TO AT THE LAST MEETING.

THEY WERE SAYING, THIS GUY KEEPS MY -- KEEPS OUR TAXES LOW.

HE KEEPS THE CITY SAFE, ASK AND THAT'S ALL I CARE ABOUT.

SO CONSEQUENCES AIN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE IN POLITICS.

>> YEAH.

MICHAEL, IT HAD A QUICK RESOLUTION AND THANKFULLY NOBODY WAS KILLED, BUT THE SHOOTING IN THE BROOKLYN SUBWAY STATION TOOK OVER NEWS ROOMS LAST WEEK.

YOU'RE IN THE CHAIR ON MORNING EDITION.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE AS THAT STORY UNFOLDED?

>> IT WAS TERRIFYING, HEARING IT AT FIRST.

IT REALLY WAS, BECAUSE THE INITIAL REPORTS WERE, FIVE OR SIX PEOPLE HAD BEEN SHOT AND KILLED AND THAT THEY WERE UNDETONATED EXPLOSIVES ON THE TRAIN.

AND THEN THE OTHER DETAILS WERE THAT THIS PERSON HAD LET OFF SOME KIND OF FOG OR MIST OR SOMETHING IN A CROWDED SUBWAY CAR WHERE YOU CAN'T GET OUT AND IF THAT'S NOT ONE OF THE WORST NIGHTMARES FOR COMMUTERS AND RIDERS IN NEW YORK CITY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.

I'VE BEEN ON THE SUBWAY PLENTY OF TIMES, AND PLENTY OF TIMES RECENTLY, AND THAT IS ALMOST ALWAYS A PRESENT THOUGHT, YOU'RE IN A TUNNEL, THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO, THE TRAIN IS MOVING OR THE TRAIN IS STUCK AND YOU'RE CAPTIVE TO SOMEBODY WHO WOULD PULL SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

SO, IT WAS TERRIFYING.

WE HAD ONE OF OUR COWORKERS WHO WAS ON THE CAR IN FRONT OF WHERE THIS ALL TOOK PLACE, AND AS SOON AS THE DOORS OPENED, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT.

SHE CALLED US IMMEDIATELY, AND THAT WAS OUR FIRST ALERT TO WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE.

>> RADIO, POWERFUL IN SO MANY WAYS.

I MISS IT SOMETIMES.

THAT'S "ROUNDTABLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

MICHAEL HILL, SEAN SULLIVAN, COLLEEN O'DAY, GOOD TO SEE YOU CATS.

OUR THANKS ALSO TO ED.

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THANKS FOR WATCHING, EVERYBODY.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

THE WHOLE CREW OVER HERE SAYS, HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

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