Police: Set Aside Some Pot Revenue For Marijuana Enforcement
DENVER (CBS4)- Police chiefs across Colorado want a bigger piece of the state's pot pie. They believe some of the revenue from pot sales should go towards training and enforcement.
From driving under the influence of pot to explosions from the extraction of hash oil; the legalization of recreational marijuana has put new demands on local law enforcement. Police chiefs across Colorado say they need help.
"Some of the drains from some of our cities across the state are that they've re-diverted personnel do deal with compliance issues," said Greenwood Village Police Chief John Jackson.
Jackson is among police chiefs across Colorado who sent a letter to Gov. John Hickenlooper stating they would like 10 to 15 percent of the pot tax revenue set aside for things like marijuana compliance officers, task forces dealing with trafficking, a statewide database on marijuana crimes and training.
"We'd like to see training include things for field sobriety impairment testing all the way down to how do we comply with Amendments 20 and 64," said Jackson.
Representative Jonathan Singer, a Democrat representing Longmont, has been instrumental in developing marijuana policy.
"The point is really well taken," said Singer. "I think this is part of a larger conversation. I think we need to bring all sides to the table. This is a really early part of the discussion. One reason I worked on the marijuana tax bill and introduced it was to keep this drug out of the hands of kids, criminals and the cartels."
While Hickenlooper can make a wish list for funding on behalf of the chiefs, the legislature writes the budget. Over the next few weeks they will decide how to distribute the $184 million in pot tax revenue projected over the next year.
