Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Twin Falls - Vice has never been too far out of reach for Magic Valley residents. Want to try your luck gambling? Jackpot, Nev., is less than an hours' drive south of Twin Falls. And legal prostitution isn't much farther.
And beginning the first of next year, the Magic Valley will be a short drive away from legal recreational marijuana.
Neighboring states legalizing cannabis is nothing new for Idaho. Washington and Oregon legalized recreational pot in recent years, and Montana legalized medical marijuana. The Spokesman-Review reported this week Idaho now shares 80 percent of its border with pot-friendly states and provinces.
But for Magic Valley residents, legal pot has never been closer after Nevada residents voted last week to legalize recreational marijuana. Now, the question for many across southern Idaho is how Nevada's new law will affect the Magic Valley.
"I can guarantee my deputies will be paying more attention," Twin Falls County Sheriff Tom Carter said. "There very well may be more stops because of it, especially for people getting high while there and then coming home."
Carter said those driving under the influence of marijuana are a bigger concern than people bringing back small amounts of pot. The sheriff's office intends to continue looking for both types of travelers but won't make any significant changes like setting up extra patrols near the border.
"I'm sure we'll write more citations for possession of marijuana," Carter said. "But as far as doing anything special, probably not."
Idaho State Police troopers will take a similar approach by maintaining vigilance on U.S. 93 near the border without significantly increasing patrols, Lt. Robert Rausch said.
"We try to spread our resources out in a way where we use them in the most effective manner, and that area of U.S. 93 has been traditionally an area where we get a lot of crashes," Rausch said. "Whether it's impairment, people crossing the dividing line or otherwise, it does remain a major concern."
Rausch said ISP's plans are subject to change depending on what actually happens once pot becomes legal Jan. 1 in Nevada, but he said it was "business as usual" for ISP when Oregon and Washington legalized marijuana.
"We enforce drug impaired driving, and we intend to continue that," Rausch said. "And, it's illegal to possess here, no matter what your medical card says."
Nevada's new law
Nevada's new recreational marijuana law will look similar to the ones already in place in Washington and Oregon, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Adults 21 and older will be able to possess 1 ounce of marijuana or one-eighth of an ounce of cannabis concentrate, but smoking in public and driving while high will still be against the law.
The big question for the Magic Valley, and one that Elko County commissioners don't know, is where pot will be sold. The chances that a marijuana dispensary opens in Jackpot are slim.
According to the Review-Journal, Las Vegas' Clark County will be allowed up to 80 stores, Reno's Washoe County up to 20 stores, and all other counties will be allowed only two.
That means if a dispensary opened in or near the city of Elko, the county would get only one other dispensary. And Elko County Commissioner Cliff Eklund said there's already interest coming from West Wendover, less than a two-hour drive from Salt Lake City.
"It's a no-brainer (someone would want to open a dispensary) in West Wendover," Elko County Commissioner Glen Guttry agreed.
Commissioners Eklund, Guttry and Demar Dahl all told the Times-News they've yet to look at the new law and how it will be implemented, but they have time. While pot will be become legal to possess and smoke Jan. 1, the state has until 2018 to figure out the best ways to sell it and tax it. The commissioners said they'd be looking for direction from the state about exactly what to do.
But even if a dispensary doesn't open in Jackpot, local law enforcement officials are expecting an increase in marijuana-related crimes.
"Whenever a neighboring state passes a law making something legal there that's illegal here and federally, you see more people who cross into our state," Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said.
Many people unintentionally violate the law by bringing back small, personal-use amounts, Loebs said, while others break the law more deliberately by trafficking large amounts across the border.
"We've seen huge increases of marijuana in Twin Falls since Oregon and Washington legalized," Loebs said. "In regards to distribution, we've seen huge amounts of trafficking compared to years before."
While stopping trafficking is still a priority, Loebs said, cracking down on people with small, personal-amounts is not.
"If a guy just has a marijuana cigarette, we'll confiscate it and write a citation, but he's not going to jail or prison," Loebs said. "But distribution, trafficking large amounts? Five, 10 pounds? That's a felony and still a big problem."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Idaho Has Eye On Nevada's Legalized Marijuana
Author: Alex Riggins
Contact: 775-738-3118
Photo Credit: Drew Nash
Website: Elko Daily Free Press
And beginning the first of next year, the Magic Valley will be a short drive away from legal recreational marijuana.
Neighboring states legalizing cannabis is nothing new for Idaho. Washington and Oregon legalized recreational pot in recent years, and Montana legalized medical marijuana. The Spokesman-Review reported this week Idaho now shares 80 percent of its border with pot-friendly states and provinces.
But for Magic Valley residents, legal pot has never been closer after Nevada residents voted last week to legalize recreational marijuana. Now, the question for many across southern Idaho is how Nevada's new law will affect the Magic Valley.
"I can guarantee my deputies will be paying more attention," Twin Falls County Sheriff Tom Carter said. "There very well may be more stops because of it, especially for people getting high while there and then coming home."
Carter said those driving under the influence of marijuana are a bigger concern than people bringing back small amounts of pot. The sheriff's office intends to continue looking for both types of travelers but won't make any significant changes like setting up extra patrols near the border.
"I'm sure we'll write more citations for possession of marijuana," Carter said. "But as far as doing anything special, probably not."
Idaho State Police troopers will take a similar approach by maintaining vigilance on U.S. 93 near the border without significantly increasing patrols, Lt. Robert Rausch said.
"We try to spread our resources out in a way where we use them in the most effective manner, and that area of U.S. 93 has been traditionally an area where we get a lot of crashes," Rausch said. "Whether it's impairment, people crossing the dividing line or otherwise, it does remain a major concern."
Rausch said ISP's plans are subject to change depending on what actually happens once pot becomes legal Jan. 1 in Nevada, but he said it was "business as usual" for ISP when Oregon and Washington legalized marijuana.
"We enforce drug impaired driving, and we intend to continue that," Rausch said. "And, it's illegal to possess here, no matter what your medical card says."
Nevada's new law
Nevada's new recreational marijuana law will look similar to the ones already in place in Washington and Oregon, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Adults 21 and older will be able to possess 1 ounce of marijuana or one-eighth of an ounce of cannabis concentrate, but smoking in public and driving while high will still be against the law.
The big question for the Magic Valley, and one that Elko County commissioners don't know, is where pot will be sold. The chances that a marijuana dispensary opens in Jackpot are slim.
According to the Review-Journal, Las Vegas' Clark County will be allowed up to 80 stores, Reno's Washoe County up to 20 stores, and all other counties will be allowed only two.
That means if a dispensary opened in or near the city of Elko, the county would get only one other dispensary. And Elko County Commissioner Cliff Eklund said there's already interest coming from West Wendover, less than a two-hour drive from Salt Lake City.
"It's a no-brainer (someone would want to open a dispensary) in West Wendover," Elko County Commissioner Glen Guttry agreed.
Commissioners Eklund, Guttry and Demar Dahl all told the Times-News they've yet to look at the new law and how it will be implemented, but they have time. While pot will be become legal to possess and smoke Jan. 1, the state has until 2018 to figure out the best ways to sell it and tax it. The commissioners said they'd be looking for direction from the state about exactly what to do.
But even if a dispensary doesn't open in Jackpot, local law enforcement officials are expecting an increase in marijuana-related crimes.
"Whenever a neighboring state passes a law making something legal there that's illegal here and federally, you see more people who cross into our state," Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said.
Many people unintentionally violate the law by bringing back small, personal-use amounts, Loebs said, while others break the law more deliberately by trafficking large amounts across the border.
"We've seen huge increases of marijuana in Twin Falls since Oregon and Washington legalized," Loebs said. "In regards to distribution, we've seen huge amounts of trafficking compared to years before."
While stopping trafficking is still a priority, Loebs said, cracking down on people with small, personal-amounts is not.
"If a guy just has a marijuana cigarette, we'll confiscate it and write a citation, but he's not going to jail or prison," Loebs said. "But distribution, trafficking large amounts? Five, 10 pounds? That's a felony and still a big problem."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Idaho Has Eye On Nevada's Legalized Marijuana
Author: Alex Riggins
Contact: 775-738-3118
Photo Credit: Drew Nash
Website: Elko Daily Free Press
