Pubdate: Wed, 03 Oct 2012
Source: Rocky Mountain Collegian, The (Colorado State U, CO Edu)
Copyright: 2012 Rocky Mountain Collegian
Contact: http://www.collegian.com/home/lettertotheeditor/
Website: http://www.collegian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1370
Author: Emily Smith

SHERIFF ANNOUNCES "STRONG OPPOSITION" TO AMENDMENT 64

Colorado's proposed Amendment 64 would give the state the most 
liberal marijuana laws anywhere in the world.

Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith, who said he believed his duties 
involved speaking out on issues of public safety and concern, 
announced his strong opposition to the amendment Wednesday.

"It would be like taking the problems experienced with the 
introduction of medical marijuana dispensaries in local communities 
and multiplying them ten-fold," Smith said.

Amendment 64 to Colorado's state constitution would allow the 
personal use and regulation of marijuana for adults 21 and over, with 
the intent to regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol.

Sheriff's deputies recently began taking the same safety precautions 
in marijuana grow houses as they do in meth labs, citing dangerous 
mold spores discovered on some test samples.

In addition to health-related dangers, Smith gave other reasons for 
his opposition. These included increasing drug-related school 
suspensions among youth and a sharp rise in marijuana DUIs since the 
state sanctioning of medical marijuana businesses in 2009.

"Our kids have too much promise and Colorado is a state with too much 
natural beauty and potential to let it become the pot capital of the 
world," Smith said.

For more information contact Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith at 
(970)-498-5101.
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