Atlantic City is embracing the legal cannabis boom, with new dispensaries, consumption lounges, and a rising flow of curious tourists. But legalization hasn’t meant a free-for-all. For local police, the focus has shifted from possession-based arrests to managing behavior, public safety, and compliance inside a fast-changing, tourism-driven environment.

Public Consumption: The Most Active Enforcement Area

The biggest priority for Atlantic City police is regulating where people can and cannot consume. New Jersey law allows adults 21 and older to legally possess cannabis, but the state leaves most on-the-ground consumption rules to municipalities. Atlantic City prohibits smoking or vaping cannabis in public spaces—including beaches, the Boardwalk, parks, and outside casinos.

Complaints about people lighting up on the Boardwalk increased throughout 2024, leading police to issue fines and warnings. Summonses for public smoking are typically $100, and officers often use discretion when dealing with visitors who simply misunderstand local rules. The city’s new consumption lounges are meant to provide legal alternatives, reducing the need for enforcement outdoors.

Youth Access and Under-21 Encounters

Another major enforcement priority involves under-21 consumers. State decriminalization rules changed how officers can interact with minors, emphasizing written warnings, parental notification, and education over arrest. In Atlantic City, where youth tourism and school trips are common, officers focus on preventing sales or transfers to minors and stepping in when young people are smoking in public.

Police are also watching for adults who legally purchase products but illegally share them with teens—an offense that carries civil penalties. The goal isn’t to criminalize young people but to prevent underage access in a dense, highly trafficked tourist zone.

Impaired Driving Remains a High-Stakes Concern

Driving under the influence of cannabis is treated as seriously as alcohol impairment under New Jersey law, and local police continue to make DUI enforcement a priority. Officers rely on field sobriety tests, dash cameras, and specially trained drug-recognition experts to assess impairment.

Atlantic City’s police leadership has repeatedly emphasized that casino traffic, nightlife visitors, and the growing cannabis tourism scene make impaired driving one of the most significant public safety concerns.

Unlicensed Sellers and Illicit Market Crackdowns

With legal cannabis now part of the city’s economy, police are paying closer attention to unlicensed sellers and pop-up vendors who operate outside the state’s regulated market. Crackdowns typically target unregistered delivery drivers, backroom smoke shops selling high-THC products without a license, or pop-up operations that appear during major events.

The city sees this enforcement as supporting both consumer safety and legitimate cannabis businesses, which must meet strict testing, packaging, and tax rules.

Rules for Off-Duty Officers

A unique issue in New Jersey is the allowance for police officers to use cannabis when off duty. State guidance makes it clear that off-duty use is legal, but on-duty impairment is strictly prohibited. Atlantic City enforces that zero-tolerance standard, ensuring no officer handles firearms or responds to calls while under the influence.

A Shift Toward Public Safety Over Punishment

Overall, Atlantic City’s police priorities reflect a shift away from criminalization and toward practical regulation. The focus lands on public consumption, youth access, impaired driving, and protecting the regulated market—not punishing adults who follow the rules.

For visitors and residents, the message is simple: cannabis is legal, accepted, and increasingly part of the city’s tourism identity. But respecting the rules keeps the Boardwalk—and the industry—running smoothly.