Pubdate: Sat, 09 Apr 2016
Source: Ada Evening News, The (OK)
Copyright: 2016 The Ada Evening News
Contact:  http://www.adaeveningnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1546
Note: from a Press Release

DRUG EXPERT TO SPEAK AT TOWN HALL MEETING

The Pontotoc County Drug Free Coalition is hosting a town hall meeting
to discuss marijuana legalization and the statewide impact it has had
on Colorado.

The event takes place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 21 at the Pontotoc
Technology Center. This event is open to the community as well as
those outside of Pontotoc County. No registration is required and it
is free to attend.

The speaker will be Thomas Gorman, director of the Rocky Mountain High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area out of Denver. Mr. Gorman is a FBI
National Academy graduate and served with the California Bureau of
Narcotic Enforcement agency for many years. Gorman is a veteran
undercover agent, having received two Purple Hearts from being wounded
while undercover. Upon retiring from the BNE, Gorman took on his
current position as Director in 1997.

"It is a privilege to have director Gorman visit our community and
talk about legalization. I first heard him speak about legalization
several years ago while attending a national conference. His mix of
real world examples, humor and facts make the topic easy to
understand. Marijuana legalization is a conversation we need to have
in our community," states AshLee Griffin, Drug Free Communities
coordinator.

Throughout his career in Colorado, Gorman has seen how marijuana has
impacted Colorado. His presentation intends to address such topics as
youth access, the economy, the black market, fatalities and more.
According to the 2015 preview report titled "The Legalization of
Marijuana In Colorado; The Impact," the Denver Police Department has
seen a steady increase in the number of DUID (driving under the
influence of drugs) cases involving marijuana, reporting 33 percent in
2013 followed by 66 percent in 2014. Since marijuana was legalized,
Colorado ranks #1 in the country for teen (74 percent), college-age
(62 percent) and adult (104 percent) marijuana use.

PCDFC hopes this event will provide citizens an opportunity to gain
clarity on the issue. The coalition hopes community members will leave
the forum more confident in the facts concerning legalization.
Following the presentation, there will be a question-and-answer-period.

Pontotoc County Drug Free Coalition is united to reduce substance
abuse. Through the use of proactive strategies, the group empowers our
diverse community to sustain a healthy environment through education,
awareness and policy advocacy.

For more information or media inquiries, contact the Pontotoc County
Drug Free Coalition via email at  or by phone at (580)
559-5990. Visit www.pcdfc.org for more information.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D