N. Idaho authorities concerned about Wash. marijuana law
Washington's new marijuana law is raising eyebrows nationwide and causing concern across the border with law enforcement officers in Idaho, KXLY in Spokane reports.
The law legalizes recreational pot use and sets up state-licensed growers and distributors.
Across the border, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department said it will have to step up their game to crack down on marijuana and a law that will bring in revenue for Washington could end up costing Kootenai County.
"I think we will see a lot more possession cases. I think unfortunately we will see a lot of under the influence cases," Kootenai County Sheriff's Lieutenant Stu Miller said.
Kootenai County deputies deal with around five marijuana cases a week. Lt. Miller predicts it could double when the new Washington law kicks into action.
"We have a responsibility to protect our community. In our community it's against the law to have marijuana. We are going to have to step up our efforts to make sure we are protecting those folks, making sure their voices are still heard," Miller said.
Law enforcement classifies marijuana as a gateway drug, and worries addiction could spike and lead to harder drug use. It's possible the new law could put a little more pressure on an already crowded jail and that more manpower will be needed to handle any spike in crime.
"Our deputies will have to take more time away from finding people on the streets, more incidents of fights because of drug based burglaries, thefts," Miller explained.
Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said Initiative 502 could cause problems at the border.
"When outside the state people start coming here to buy marijuana what happens, who's going to enforce that if they take it across state lines? That's going to be a federal issue. Then you will have a federal versus state issue," Knezovich said.
Now it's a waiting game to see how this will actually impact Idaho. Washington state officials have a little more than year to license farmers and retail stores to distribute pot to the public. That gives law enforcement officials in Idaho time to figure out how they're going to respond.
"We are going to be doing some planning in that year to figure out if there is anything extra we need to do," Lt. Miller said.
OK people lets look at this with some common sense. In 2011 the white house reported that there was far more marijuana arrests in this country then all violent crimes combined. Tax payers pay to house and feed thousands and thousands of recreational users of this drug in our prison system. While our state and country keeps digging itself further and further in debt. The claims about side effects of the drug are all false. I have read dozens of medical reports from our best researchers and doctors. There is hundreds of medical contributions this drug can provide to millions of suffering Americans. I believe that ignorance to this drug has set us back decades of research and discovery of cures to many different diseases.
And lets not forget the effects of marijuana prohibition on our society. It is far more destructive then alcohol prohibition ever was. And in 1933 the powers that be decided to put an end to alcohol prohibition for less reasons then we have now to end marijuana prohibition. If marijuana was made legal tomorrow it would free up billions of dollars for our law enforcement to focus on better things that will make us safe. And lets not forget that prohibition has never worked here in America. It makes new avenues of income for criminals. It funded the mafia for many years. It led to the deaths of hundreds if not thousands, including law enforcement agents involved in trying to stop the flow of alcohol. It corrupted politicians, and police the same. We spend millions, if not billions trying to stop the flow coming in over our borders. And its a loosing battle. Why spend all that money on something that doesn't make a single person safer?
I just want to ask our politicians here in the beautiful state of Idaho, Why? I want some real facts. Not this old line of bull that we are all told about the drug. Lets legalize it, and tax it. What could they do with the extra revenue? Control the sale of it, keep it out of the hands of children. And lets end this pointless struggle. Not only would this end the useless spending of money, it could create extra money we can put into our schools and other well needed places. Not to mention it would put millions of dealers out of business overnight. Where is the down side? And all of this is from a NON user. Think about it.
"Our deputies will have to take more time away from finding people on the streets, more incidents of fights because of drug based burglaries, thefts," Miller explained
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Mr. Miller.......you are very uninformed. Havent seen many folks getting violent because of drug based burglaries. Your facts are a continuence of the failed war on drugs....notice that DARE program dropped cannabis from their curriculum? There is a reason for this sir. Lets educate and inform.
MAC will be growing in Idaho as well...just as soon as Lindsey's group gets the bill to pass!
Learn about Rick Simpson Oil which is . Learn about our bodies Endogenous Cannabinoid System. Â Cops and judges and prosecutors get Cancer too! Â Cannabis is a cure. Â Have compassion for others, someday that compassion may save your life.
This is ridiculous...Cannabis should be legal globally. Get with the times Idaho!
Here is a thought, instead of wasting money on a herb. Why don't you worry about creating some jobs. Your priorities are a little confused. Just sayin'
oh boy you guys are in for it now!
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under the influence,, marijuana has been here longer than anyone alive today,,and people have been smoking and driving for a long long long time,,and never in the 40 years ive been alive have i ever heard of someone  being arrested for under the influence of marijuana ,,{DUIM} HAHAHAA! been smoking and driving since i was 15,, but i will not drink and drive,, cause i am f'd up,,, its not like weed wasnt there before and people need to realize we dont like to drink,,we want to smoke and alcohol is worse,, and its legal,, why do police and government try to be adults mommies and daddies,, in 40  i dont need nobody to tell me whats wrong and whats right,, i tell my kids whats right and whats wrong,,its like we are never considered as adults even after your grown...you live your life i will live mine legal or illegal !!!
All I read are the same nonsense spouted by the addicted drug users. Pot is this, pot is that, the people want it, and other nonsense.
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Drug use I pray will never become legal in our country. The war on drugs is not a failure, only the users who don't want to kick their addition are continuing to trip up the effort. Medical uses for extreme illnesses only should have use of medicines derived from the planet. And sorry this does not mean sitting around smoking a joint and extreme cases are the ones often with death as a result, not "upset stomach or a bad day."
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 It never fails, as soon as a stupid article gets released the addicts come out crying for their drug of choice to be legal so they can indulge without repercussions. If you spent that much effort and time trying to get and stay clean you would be better off. The only reasonable way to hand these drugs is keep them as they are listed, if something from the plant is a help to the medical needs then take that part out and limit/remove the so deeply desired high effects.
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Drug use is not some civil right, its not something you should be able to do because it you don't think it affects anyone but yourself. You live in society with the rest of us and interact with just by existing. Society has a right to protect itself from drugs. Getting help and getting rid of drug use would better serve America better than allowing their use. If its allowed, then it can be misconstrued as being acceptable and harmless.
 @ChristopherK You are the one that is ignorant.
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All I read are the same nonsense spouted by the addicted drug users. Pot is this, pot is that, the people want it, and other nonsense.
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Drug use I pray will never become legal in our country. The war on drugs is not a failure, only the users who don't want to kick their addition are continuing to trip up the effort. Medical uses for extreme illnesses only should have use of medicines derived from the planet. And sorry this does not mean sitting around smoking a joint and extreme cases are the ones often with death as a result, not "upset stomach or a bad day."
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 It never fails, as soon as a stupid article gets released the addicts come out crying for their drug of choice to be legal so they can indulge without repercussions. If you spent that much effort and time trying to get and stay clean you would be better off. The only reasonable way to hand these drugs is keep them as they are listed, if something from the plant is a help to the medical needs then take that part out and limit/remove the so deeply desired high effects.
 @ChristopherK You cannot become addicted to  cannabis.  It heals, relaxes you, helps you focus, kills cancer cells, etc.  It is better than pharmaceuticals. Safer than big pharma drugs. Â
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I think you really need to get educated on the facts of cannabis because clearly, you are not. Â I feel sorry for you because of your ignorance. Â
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Cannabis is a plant that is given to us by God to heal ourselves. Â No government, no law, can change that fact. Â It belongs to us to helps us. Â Jesus used it. Â It has been around for thousands of years. Â
Talk about ignorance. Â Miller is clueless about cannabis. Â Idaho WANTS cannabis legalized. Â It never should have been prohibited in the first place!!!
www.compassionateidaho.org Help us change our marijuana laws by volunteering some of your time to Compassionate Idaho! Find us on fb too!
Polls say that Idaho wants medical marijuana legalized!
Why doesn't law enforcement focus on violent crimes, and save real victims!
Stop wasting our tax money enforcing a law Idahoans don't want!
Don't forget the private prison industry needs occupants. Â What a scam.
"Law enforcement classifies marijuana as a gateway drug, and worries addiction could spike and lead to harder drug use."Cannabis is already listed alongside heroin as a schedule one drug.  By calling it a gateway drug, are you implying that is it less dangerous than heroin?  Can't have it both ways.  Sugar is the original gateway drug and every parent knows it.  As for this sudden concern for stoned drivers, why not show us the statistics of cannabis only accidents and numbers of cannabis only DUI convictions?  Cars have been around as long as cannabis has here in the USA.  And the number of users has increased every decade since the 1960s, yet there's no stats to back up this claim that there's carnage on the highways caused by cannabis only users.
how sad is it that he just regurgitated pretty much the same old propaganda they always use? the gateway theory has been debunked several times and if the cases double it will be because they turn their attention away from real crime.why is it that the law enforcement and drug counseling personnel are usually the first and loudest to cry foul whenever cannabis prohibition laws get changed in favor of freedom? the people voted it in are you listening?it might have been on the other side of the state line but i assure you this side feels the same way !
This sounds almost as bad as bible burning, and book withholding.  They are worried about something that will be happening any way, if you would like to stop the crime look for those who participate in Meth, and the harder drugs.  Because it was our forefathers who said marijuana was a, they also let their children sleep in rooms with lead paint, and said that human interaction in culturally diverse groups is wrong.  It's time to make a change and accept that this is something that can help and not hinder.  As I am suffering from Psoriatic Arthritis, and it's extremely difficult for me to work through pain in order to exercise and even go to school some days, I am just waiting for the day that my pain from my health issues, and my nausea from the Methotrexate and Indomethacin can disappear .  Kootenai county just let it flow, and see the world of good it will bring you.
"We have a responsibility to protect our community. In our community it's against the law to have marijuana. We are going to have to step up our efforts to make sure we are protecting those folks, making sure their voices are still heard," Miller said.What about the 70% of Idaho's population that supports legalization for medical purposes in Idaho? I wonder if they feel their voices are being heard on another state's legalization decision. Also, once Cannabis is legalized in Idaho (yes, it's coming)-- will Lt. Miller be sure to protect *us* then, and make sure *our* voices get heard?"Our deputies will have to take more time away from finding people on the streets, more incidents of fights because of drug based burglaries, thefts," Miller explained.I would *dearly* love to see that stats on Kootenai County's Cannabis-related burglaries and thefts last year. What a lame argument.Straight up, weed has always been a part of the culture of every state in this country, and it always will be. Cannabis users don't cause harm, they aren't a drag on the economy, they don't keep the Cheetos company in business. They are doctors, lawyers, bankers, housewives, grocery store clerks, government employees, and they feed the economy... they are America.
The ignorance of paid officials will never seize to amaze me. The change of this particular law is not going to change the whole scheme of things in Idaho. Cannabis is and always has been available to citizens in Idaho, no matter what laws read in a neighboring state. As some of the previous commentors have said, Idaho, along with all other states in the country and really, the entire world, needs to just realize that this fight against marajuana is a 'TOTAL' waste of time and money.Little by little, the citizens are educating themselves about this amazing plant. And as that happens, more citizens are realizing that this plant is a very benificial plant and resource to all of us, and not the 'devil' plant that our government has brainwashed it's citizens' to believe. The propaganda attached to the cannabis plant is just that,, propaganda and big lies...they used scare tactics to make it's citizens afraid of it...all in the name of 'the almighty dollar'!! (if you don't believe that, look it up)Hopefully, sooner than later, our tax payers are going to wake up to the fact that people that are affiliated with the cannabis plant are NOT criminals. And the fact that the imprisonment & standing laws are doing far more harm than good. There are 'real' criminals walking the streets because the prisons are full of good, hard working people that don't belong behind bars. And our taxes are paying for them to put and keep them there.Think about it folks!!!
Seriously? They act as if this is a new thing. Its a natural growing plant that has and always will be available. it doesn't matter if it's against silly man laws or not. The system makes money off it and it's just as simple as that. When will we wake up and realize that decriminalization is the answer. More crime and thefts? Are you kidding me, we're not talking about meth heads here. Never have we heard of a pot smoker suddenly getting the urge to rob a bank to support his habit. Fear propaganda is all this article is about.
The smartest thing for Idaho to do would be to consider legalization as well. It is coming, and the sooner we get there where all 50 states have legal marijuana, the less conflicts we will have moving forward. If Idaho wants to fight kicking and screaming along the way, that is fine, but eventually, it will be legal there as well, and there won't be any problems with people needing to cross the borders to get marijuana.
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This is how alcohol prohibition ended as well - starts with one state, and dominoes from there....Idaho, get ready for change..
Nothing will change here because of WA. Idaho has had cannabis here the whole time. Look at all of the busts that occurred on the outdoor grows over the summer. If they are already dealing with 5 cannabis cases a week there, perhaps they should spend some time going after people for things more important than cannabis possession. Saying that this will take away from the current work is absurd. Another reason that things won't change is that Idaho Law has Not changed, therefor a DUI or possession is still a DUI or possession. People in WA aren't dying to come Here with their cannabis full well knowing that they aren't safe here. They aren't even safe there, but that is a debate for a different time.
The one risk that was pointed out was people going to WA to get cannabis. Sure, that could and probably will happen. It already does, and has, for a Very, very long time. Like I said, nothing is changing.Â
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Yes I can just imagine people fleeing in the streets from the marijuana coming to get them.. give me a break we don't need protection from ourselves. Â