Pubdate: Fri, 13 May 2016
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2016 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Authors: John Ingold and John Frank

COLO. POLICE WANT 2 YEARS TO CATCH UP

Colorado's top prosecutors and police officials want a two-year 
moratorium on new marijuana laws to give officers time to catch up.

In a letter dated last week and sent to lawmakers, leaders of the 
state's three main groups of law enforcement officials said local 
police "cannot keep up with the quantity and speed of constantly 
changing marijuana law."

There have been 81 marijuana-related bills introduced in the Colorado 
legislature in just the past four years, according to the letter.

"Regulation seems to change on a daily basis, and this process must 
be slowed down," the groups wrote.

The solution, the groups propose, is a two-year moratorium on "any 
changes to current law with regard to marijuana legalization, unless 
a strong public safety nexus is established."

The letter was sent by the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, 
the County Sheriffs of Colorado and the Colorado District Attorneys' 
Council. It was written, specifically, to help set the agenda for an 
off-season legislative committee conducting a cost-benefit analysis 
of marijuana legalization.

In addition to the moratorium, the letter asks lawmakers to fund two 
law enforcement work groups that the organizations formed to keep 
track of legalization's impacts and to train police officers. The 
letter also asks the legislature to create a state marijuana liaison 
to law enforcement.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom