New Orleans is relaxing marijuana rules for first responders.
Since marijuana was decriminalized in the city it only made sense to update policies, New Orleans Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montano told WDSU.
"Whereas our former policy, you were automatically dismissed should you have some level of cannabis in your system, that is no longer the case," Montano said.
The city made the change recently in an effort to boost recruitment efforts at the police department.
"We heard it directly from our NOPD staff that past usage of marijuana was an inhibitor for their future employment progress."
There will still be random drug tests and disciplinary action, but those details are still being worked out by the Civil Service Commission.
"You can't come to work drunk. If you do, you're gonna get disciplined," Montano said. "It's gonna be similar to marijuana usage. I hope they wouldn't come in drunk, and I hope they won't come in high."
