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MedicalNLovingIt!
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url: hMPp://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2013/09/04/news/19local_09-04-13.txt
CHEYENNE -- Whether they wanted to know about growing hemp, drug impairment in children or to spread the word about a not-for-profit group, everyone that attended a Tuesday seminar was focused on marijuana.
The Cheyenne Police Department hosted the seminar about marijuana at the Cheyenne-Kiwanis Community House in Lions Park.
Cheyenne Police Chief Brian Kozak talked about signs of marijuana impairment, including red eyes, disorientation and impaired attention.
He also talked about how Wyoming may be seeing more of these signs of impairment, as recreational use of the substance is now legal in Colorado, although regulations are still being worked out.
Colorado is already seeing the effects of the legalization, according to a report called The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact by the Rocky Mountain High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.
From 2006 to 2011, traffic fatalities decreased in Colorado 16 percent, but fatalities involv-ing drivers testing positive for marijuana increased 114 percent.
And the drug isnt staying in Colorado. From 2009 to 2012, seizures involving Colorado marijuana designated for other states quadrupled to an average per year of 242. This is compared to 52 from 2005 to 2008.
In the first five months of 2013, there have been 209 seizures of packages with marijuana mailed to other states, compared to 15 in 2010.
Talking to drug task forces, theyre having to put so many more resources into the marijuana thats leaving the state, Kozak said.
As for if its affecting Wyoming, time will tell. Kozak said the department hasnt been keeping official statistics, but hes noticed a difference personally.
He worked nights during Cheyenne Frontier Days, and made five driving under the influence arrests. Of those arrests, four were under the influence of drugs, with two being impaired by marijuana they got from Colorado.
He added he is adamantly opposed to marijuana legalization in Wyoming.
One of the reasons is we take such a minimal approach to DUIs here in the state, whether its alcohol or drugs, he said. This state is nowhere near ready to have the increased problem of cannabis impairment.
He said he believes the DUI laws in Wyoming need to be strengthened.
For attendee Jonna Hilzer-Dickie, the seminar was eye-opening.
Its a juggling act for law enforcement, she said. Without stronger laws, it makes it difficult to attack substance usage that makes the community unsafe, such as driving while impaired.
But others who attended the seminar were there to provide some education of their own.
Members of the not-for-profit group Weed Wyoming showed up to listen to what the chief had to say and provide their thoughts.
We are here for the community, Daniel Lucero with the Cheyenne chapter said. Were definitely cooperative people, were not going to come here and protest. We want to hear different sides, different views that will help our campaign.
The group supports legalization of medical marijuana. Several members talked about how they suffer chronic pain and were prescribed narcotics.
I suffered a horrible accident and spent a considerable amount of time addicted to opi-ates, founder Charlie Lake said.
Members asked several questions during the seminar, and also talked to people afterward about what medical marijuana can do to help people with medical conditions.
And though Kozak and the group members disagree on whether marijuana should be legalized, they both agreed that children should be educated about the potentially harmful effects of using it.
We have to educate the youth about abusing certain drugs, Lucero said.
Police department hosts marijuana seminar
CHEYENNE -- Whether they wanted to know about growing hemp, drug impairment in children or to spread the word about a not-for-profit group, everyone that attended a Tuesday seminar was focused on marijuana.
The Cheyenne Police Department hosted the seminar about marijuana at the Cheyenne-Kiwanis Community House in Lions Park.
Cheyenne Police Chief Brian Kozak talked about signs of marijuana impairment, including red eyes, disorientation and impaired attention.
He also talked about how Wyoming may be seeing more of these signs of impairment, as recreational use of the substance is now legal in Colorado, although regulations are still being worked out.
Colorado is already seeing the effects of the legalization, according to a report called The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact by the Rocky Mountain High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.
From 2006 to 2011, traffic fatalities decreased in Colorado 16 percent, but fatalities involv-ing drivers testing positive for marijuana increased 114 percent.
And the drug isnt staying in Colorado. From 2009 to 2012, seizures involving Colorado marijuana designated for other states quadrupled to an average per year of 242. This is compared to 52 from 2005 to 2008.
In the first five months of 2013, there have been 209 seizures of packages with marijuana mailed to other states, compared to 15 in 2010.
Talking to drug task forces, theyre having to put so many more resources into the marijuana thats leaving the state, Kozak said.
As for if its affecting Wyoming, time will tell. Kozak said the department hasnt been keeping official statistics, but hes noticed a difference personally.
He worked nights during Cheyenne Frontier Days, and made five driving under the influence arrests. Of those arrests, four were under the influence of drugs, with two being impaired by marijuana they got from Colorado.
He added he is adamantly opposed to marijuana legalization in Wyoming.
One of the reasons is we take such a minimal approach to DUIs here in the state, whether its alcohol or drugs, he said. This state is nowhere near ready to have the increased problem of cannabis impairment.
He said he believes the DUI laws in Wyoming need to be strengthened.
For attendee Jonna Hilzer-Dickie, the seminar was eye-opening.
Its a juggling act for law enforcement, she said. Without stronger laws, it makes it difficult to attack substance usage that makes the community unsafe, such as driving while impaired.
But others who attended the seminar were there to provide some education of their own.
Members of the not-for-profit group Weed Wyoming showed up to listen to what the chief had to say and provide their thoughts.
We are here for the community, Daniel Lucero with the Cheyenne chapter said. Were definitely cooperative people, were not going to come here and protest. We want to hear different sides, different views that will help our campaign.
The group supports legalization of medical marijuana. Several members talked about how they suffer chronic pain and were prescribed narcotics.
I suffered a horrible accident and spent a considerable amount of time addicted to opi-ates, founder Charlie Lake said.
Members asked several questions during the seminar, and also talked to people afterward about what medical marijuana can do to help people with medical conditions.
And though Kozak and the group members disagree on whether marijuana should be legalized, they both agreed that children should be educated about the potentially harmful effects of using it.
We have to educate the youth about abusing certain drugs, Lucero said.
