FruityBud
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Keeping the community drug-free has become more of a challenge lately in the Upper Valley.
Law enforcement officers said they are seeing an increase in marijuana possession during routine traffic stops and say much of it stems from Montana.
While pot is legal for medical purposes in Montana, once it crosses into Idaho it's illegal with or without a Montana medical marijuana card.
Fremont County patrol supervisor Vince Kaaiakamanu said marijuana use is more common than ever, and the legalization of medical marijuana in bordering states may be to blame.
"Where our county borders the Montana line, we're getting people coming in all the time, Kaaiakamanu said.
In the last month the county has made 15 narcotic arrests. Last year there were 47 during the entire year.
And it's not just Fremont County.
Last Thursday, Idaho State Police arrested a Montana couple when they found more than $2,000 worth of pot in their car.
Rexburg Police Capt. Randy Lewis said over the last two years they, too, have seen a dramatic increase during routine traffic stops.
"It's the same thing, it;s chronic toe pain, chronic back pain, and I'm talking 20-year-old's, Lewis said, It's obvious it's just a portal for people taking drugs."
The 25-year-old Rexburg man police arrested last weekend in a domestic dispute was also charged with possession of marijuana.
While he is a resident of Idaho, Montana issued him a medical marijuana card.
"How's this going to stop? Montana is going to have to do something, they are causing a drug epidemic whether they know it or not, Lewis said.
Lewis also said they are seeing it all over Idaho counties that border Montana.
"I don't know why, but the Montana cars we are stopping are producing marijuana, Lewis said. It's affecting our youth and us police departments and county offices are not going to put up with it, we will continue to arrest them."
Officers said they don't mean to target Montana drivers, but said it's fairly common to find marijuana when they pull one over for a traffic violation.
The state of Montana is cracking down on the issue. The state legislature just passed a bill last week to limit who qualifies for medical cannabis. The law is effective July 1.
hxxp://tinyurl.com/3tkxw8u
Law enforcement officers said they are seeing an increase in marijuana possession during routine traffic stops and say much of it stems from Montana.
While pot is legal for medical purposes in Montana, once it crosses into Idaho it's illegal with or without a Montana medical marijuana card.
Fremont County patrol supervisor Vince Kaaiakamanu said marijuana use is more common than ever, and the legalization of medical marijuana in bordering states may be to blame.
"Where our county borders the Montana line, we're getting people coming in all the time, Kaaiakamanu said.
In the last month the county has made 15 narcotic arrests. Last year there were 47 during the entire year.
And it's not just Fremont County.
Last Thursday, Idaho State Police arrested a Montana couple when they found more than $2,000 worth of pot in their car.
Rexburg Police Capt. Randy Lewis said over the last two years they, too, have seen a dramatic increase during routine traffic stops.
"It's the same thing, it;s chronic toe pain, chronic back pain, and I'm talking 20-year-old's, Lewis said, It's obvious it's just a portal for people taking drugs."
The 25-year-old Rexburg man police arrested last weekend in a domestic dispute was also charged with possession of marijuana.
While he is a resident of Idaho, Montana issued him a medical marijuana card.
"How's this going to stop? Montana is going to have to do something, they are causing a drug epidemic whether they know it or not, Lewis said.
Lewis also said they are seeing it all over Idaho counties that border Montana.
"I don't know why, but the Montana cars we are stopping are producing marijuana, Lewis said. It's affecting our youth and us police departments and county offices are not going to put up with it, we will continue to arrest them."
Officers said they don't mean to target Montana drivers, but said it's fairly common to find marijuana when they pull one over for a traffic violation.
The state of Montana is cracking down on the issue. The state legislature just passed a bill last week to limit who qualifies for medical cannabis. The law is effective July 1.
hxxp://tinyurl.com/3tkxw8u
