Rush Township enacts medical marijuana policy

Rush Township has joined other municipal entities in enacting a medical marijuana policy for its employees. The supervisors approved the policy during a meeting Thursday.

Although Pennsylvania has enacted legislation authorizing the use of medical marijuana, federal law pre-empts state legislation when employers — such as a township or borough — are subject to federally mandated, drug-free workplace regulations.

Township solicitor Chris Reidlinger said that the regulations apply to workers who hold a commercial driver’s license as well as police officers, who carry firearms. The drug-free workplace employer can prohibit and not accommodate marijuana use in the workplace.

In other action, on the request of Police Chief Ken Zipovsky, the supervisors hired two part-time police officers, Hugh Clinton and Melissa Schaeffer. Clinton is also employed part-time by Mahanoy City. Both will be paid $20 per hour.

Zipovsky reported that during January the police department responded to 147 incidents and complaints, including four criminal arrests, 20 traffic incidents, four reportable crashes and 17 traffic ordinance violations.