Pubdate: Fri, 03 Jan 2014 Source: Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA) Copyright: 2014 The Press-Enterprise Company Contact: http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/letters_form.html Website: http://www.pe.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/830 Author: Joan Barron, Star-Tribune (Casper, Wyo.) COUNTIES BORDERING COLORADO GET READY Law Enforcement Says It Would Be Naive to Think Colorado Marijuana Users Won't Cross State Lines CHEYENNE - Law enforcement officials in Wyoming counties that border Colorado are preparing for an increase in marijuana arrests given that recreational use of the drug became legal Wednesday in the neighboring state. Carbon County Sheriff Jerry Colson said he will host a training session in February for all law enforcement officers in the county to help them recognize impaired driving from use of marijuana and other drugs, as well as from alcohol. "I know we'll see it, so we're preparing for it," Colson said Thursday. According to news reports, people are coming to Colorado from all over the country to buy marijuana. If they pass through Carbon County on their way home and get caught, they could go to jail, depending on the amount of marijuana in their possession, Colson said. Individuals who possess 3 ounces or less of marijuana may be charged with a misdemeanor violation, which is punishable by a penalty of more than a year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. People caught with more than 3 ounces face a felony charge, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Colson said local law enforcement officers have arrested people possessing marijuana who held medical marijuana cards. That's because Wyoming doesn't recognize the Colorado medical card. Colorado officials have warned buyers about taking the drug out of state. But Colson said he doesn't expect all of the users to follow that advice. Albany County Sheriff Dave O'Malley said marijuana arrests surged in his border county after Colorado approved medical marijuana use in 2000, according to the Laramie Boomerang. O'Malley said he expected another bump in arrests now that recreational use is legal under Colorado law. "I would be naive to believe that folks aren't going to travel from Wyoming to Colorado to purchase marijuana legally and then transport it back to Wyoming," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom