MONTROSE - The Montrose County Housing Authority knew months before William Hewitt went public that he was a medical marijuana patient, a housing discrimination complaint alleges. The complaint, which Hewitt signed Friday, accuses the housing authority, its director and the Colorado Division of Housing, of failing to reasonably accommodate Hewitt's disability and of terminating his housing because he kept and used medical marijuana. "All I want is to help people," Hewitt said Tuesday. "I hope they restore my housing voucher and not do this to people anymore. Stop doing this to medical patients in states that are legal (for medical marijuana). I want to maybe open some eyes and let them know what they're doing to disabled people." [continues 557 words]
MONTROSE - Marijuana is an illegal drug, by federal definition. But medical marijuana, says patient and caregiver William Hewitt of Montrose, is "God's gift." Hewitt, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, credits THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, with alleviating his chronic pain and enabling him to help others - which is exactly what he now intends to do. Hewitt plans to act as designated "caregiver" to medical marijuana patients, providing their pot for them. He recently set up shop at his residence on South Fifth Street, where a neon "open" sign hangs above a poster declaring his support for Amendment 20. [continues 1304 words]
DELTA - Wednesday, a statewide spotlight on the methamphetamine scourge shone on Delta, whose sheriff, county judge and recovering users were featured in the documentary "Crystal Darkness." The film also featured Montrose therapist and meth-treatment expert, Nic Taylor and Tonya Wheeler, who overcame her meth addiction and served as president of Colorado's chapter of Advocates for Recovery. "People need to be educated on addiction and what it does to you," recovering addict Katie said after dozens of Delta-area residents watched the film's statewide broadcast at the Bill Heddles Recreation Center. [continues 562 words]
MONTROSE - Law enforcement agencies stopped just short of passing the hat, but they made it clear: the local drug task force is in dire need of funding. The Seventh Judicial District Meth/Drug Task Force is reeling from the cessation of federal Byrne grant funding, which, officials say, was hardly adequate to begin with. The task force is now seeking anything from grants to private donations. Its $47,000 Byrne allotment for this fiscal year wasn't enough to pay rent, Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Curt Williams said Wednesday, during a multi-jurisdictional meeting about the task force. [continues 697 words]
MONTROSE - An Olathe teacher was sentenced to additional jail time after County Court Judge John Mitchel found he tried to get around a court-ordered drug test. Jon Dickerson was before the court Friday for a show-cause hearing initiated by his estranged wife's allegations he'd failed to show up for mandated drug testing. Emmarae Garcia failed, however, in her bid to have Dickerson held in contempt for allegedly failing one of the tests and for allegedly contacting her by telephone when a civil no-contact order was in effect. [continues 766 words]
MONTROSE -- It's been blamed for property crimes, child endangerment and a burgeoning court caseload. Now, several Montrose agencies are coming together to say: no more meth. The Montrose Methamphetamine Coalition announced its official organization at a press conference Monday. The coalition is a joint effort by the county, city, law enforcement and social agencies that will address public safety, prevention, public awareness, treatment and drug-endangered children components of the meth problem. "We are very excited. As everyone here is aware, we do have a significant problem," County Commissioner Allan Belt said Monday. "We have a very strong vision and that is a meth-free Montrose County." [continues 679 words]
MONTROSE -- Area law enforcement agencies have banded together to oppose Amendment 44. In an open letter, representatives from 16 agencies in the 7th Judicial District urged a no vote on the ballot measure, which would legalize adult possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana. The officials contend the amendment is poorly drafted because it does not specify that adults 21 and older cannot legally pass the drug to minors. And, they dispute proponents' arguments that marijuana is safer than alcohol, a legal drug. [continues 722 words]
As election time draws near, the debate concerning a marijuana amendment on the ballot is heating up. Drug enforcement officials say Amendment 44, which would legalize adult possession of less than one ounce of pot, would increase demand - -- and hence, supply from violent, organized crime units. There are also health concerns, particularly such as those related to children. "As a federal executive branch agency, we're not for or against legislation. My opinion is it's a mistake, but the DEA's opinion is this would be a very dangerous thing for Coloradans," said Jeffrey Sweetin, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency's four-state Rocky Mountain Division. [continues 684 words]
MONTROSE - From the home labs of past years, to the Mexican imports currently being seen, methamphetamine has taken hold of the Western Slope and Montrose law enforcement officials said there's no simple way to stem the tide of social ills it unleashes. "The meth problem is very significant," Delta/Montrose Task Force Agent Jack Haynes said. "It's becoming the dominant drug of choice." The task force reported incidences involving three primary drugs, with marijuana and cocaine cited as well as meth in the majority of its cases. "Meth in our opinion is the worst and is the one we see - we actually see it more than marijuana and we know marijuana is widely used," Haynes said. [continues 1577 words]
Area medical and legal authorities agree that the federal government should limit interference with state's rights, but differ when it comes to medicinal marijuana - an issue so complex that it is now before the U.S. Supreme Court. Colorado voters passed Amendment 20 in 2000, which allows limited marijuana use for specifically defined "debilitating medical conditions," such as cancer, HIV or glaucoma. Patients must obtain recommendations from licensed physicians and apply to the state for a Medical Marijuana Registry card allowing them to possess no more than 2 ounces of marijuana or no more than six marijuana plants. [continues 695 words]
