Submitted article and staff report
news@wbcowqel.com

The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office has joined 20 other Sheriff’s Offices in the Northwest District in opposition to Issue 3. Sheriffs from Marion, Seneca, and Wyandot also signed on to oppose the legalization of marijuana.

The Board of Directors of the Buckeye State Sheriff Association announced its opposition to the proposed Constitutional amendment that would legalize the use of marijuana and allow a limited number of grow operations within the State of Ohio.

The Board of Directors felt strongly that the legalization of marijuana will cause more issues for our youth and law enforcement The Association remains committed to the youth of our state by supporting the D.A.R.E. Program and SRO Officers. As Sheriff, being the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the County, it is our belief that Ohio’s businesses need to offer a safe work environment while remaining competitive in the work force. Society is not immune to the social ills that follow destructive behavior.

Part of Law Enforcements issues is the threat of the target to young people.

Marijuana edibles and marijuana-infused beverages will be sold. These products contain higher THC (the high of cannabis) in other legalized states, which is causing more dangerous consequences such as children poisonings, adverse health effects, etc.

  • Up to 70 percent THC
  • More potent than smoking marijuana (12 percent THC)
  • THC levels are inconsistent, even with packaging
  • March 9, 2014 Denver Post — testing showed that labels didn’t match actual THC level
  • “Claude” the THC infused Black Cherry Gummy Bear has 100 mg of THC per bear. Colorado law is only to have 10mg per serving. So “Claude’s” foot alone would be one serving.

According to a 2010 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, marijuana is the most prevalent illegal drug detected in impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims.

Twenty-eight percent of driver fatalities and more than 11 percent of the general driver population tested positive for non-alcohol drugs, with marijuana being the most commonly detected substance.

Things you did not know about Colorado:

  • In 2014, nearly 40 percent, equivalent to 53 tons of the marijuana sold in Colorado was via the black market.
  • The number of pets poisoned from ingesting marijuana has increased four-fold in the past six years.
  • THC potency has risen from an average of 3.96 percent in 1995 to an average of 12.33 percent in 2013
  • The average for Colorado marijuana-related exposures per year increased 89 percent from 2006-2009 to 2010-2013. This compares to a 32 percent increase nationally, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

Marijuana continues to be the most commonly detected illicit drug of workforce urine drug tests, Quest Diagnostics reported in 2014.

Sheriffs’ natural concerns regarding legalization of marijuana are the effect on Law Enforcement. The effect on youth is a concern for Sheriffs and Deputies and should also be a concern of yours.