State Rep. Mike Mueller recently testified before the House Judiciary Committee in support of his plan to allow parks and recreation officers to enforce provisions of the new recreational marijuana law in state parks, forest land and waterways.

Mueller, of Linden, said officers commissioned by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) already have the ability to enforce a number of laws, including violations involving alcohol.

“These officers are tasked with protecting the people who visit our parks and safeguarding the sanctity of our state lands and waterways. We must give them the tools they need to do their jobs effectively,” Mueller said.

Mueller, a retired sheriff’s deputy, noted that parks and recreation officers previously had the authority to enforce marijuana-related violations on state lands, but that changed after the voter-initiated law legalizing recreational marijuana took effect.

“Recreational marijuana was legalized last year, but the law has clear restrictions – including a ban on smoking in public,” Mueller said. “This solution will simply allow park officers to enforce the new marijuana regulations.”

House Bill 4693 remains under consideration by the House Judiciary Committee.

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