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