SHERIDAN — Over the past three months, 1,100 Sheridan County residents signed a pair of petitions garnering help for a pair of potential poll measures concerning marijuana in Wyoming.
The problems raised within the petitions — decreasing penalties for possessing 4 ounces or much less of marijuana and legalizing the drug for medical use — are sophisticated and multifaceted, in response to Sheridan Police Chief Travis Koltiska, and residents ought to take time to analysis the professionals and cons of legalization earlier than making a call.
“This has been a dialogue throughout the state for a few years, and there’s language attempting to sway folks on either side of the problem,” Koltiska mentioned. ”When folks have a look at this petition, they should educate themselves on the info. As a result of some good issues would possibly come of it, however some unhealthy issues would possibly as effectively. It’s an advanced concern from our perspective.”
The present poll initiative efforts are being led statewide by the Libertarian Get together of Wyoming, and domestically by Mona Mitzel, a Sheridan County advocate for medical marijuana.
Mitzel mentioned her efforts have been impressed by a very good buddy who died of breast most cancers and used medical marijuana in her ultimate months of life. The drug allowed her buddy to benefit from a troublesome time, Mitzel mentioned.
“When she was utilizing medical marijuana, she may stroll and drink and eat,” Mitzel mentioned. “She may journey and see her grandkids. She thought it was a treatment, and it didn’t work out that method. However it positively improved her high quality of life.”
At present, 38 states — together with the bordering states of Montana, South Dakota, Utah and Colorado —have legalized marijuana for medical functions. In line with the Cato Institute, a Libertarian assume tank, medical marijuana advocates hope the pain-relieving component of the drug could assist sufferers keep away from extra dangerous and addictive prescription painkillers and tranquilizers. Additionally they consider the drug will be an efficient therapy for bipolar dysfunction, melancholy and different temper issues.
These hopes have been echoed by many who’ve signed the petitions up to now, Mitzel mentioned. Over 80% of the individuals who signed the petition in Mitzel’s first drive-in petition sign-up occasion had been over age 60 and plenty of had severe well being considerations, Mitzel mentioned.
“I’ve positively encountered extra older folks than youthful folks,” Mizel mentioned. “I’ve met folks with degenerative illnesses that have an effect on the nerves. I’ve met folks with MS. I’ve met individuals who can barely signal their title on the petition. These folks say ‘I really need this and would profit from it.’”
For his half, Koltiska acknowledged “there are substances which have confirmed to have medical advantages” in marijuana., however he additionally frightened concerning the drug’s addictive properties, which may probably pave the best way for substance abuse and crime.
“The potential legalization of marijuana for medical use is regarding as a result of there’s potential for abuse of any substance that impairs cognitive capability,” Koltiska mentioned. “It’s the identical factor with alcohol. If alcohol wasn’t already authorized, I’m undecided I’d help legalization efforts based mostly on what we see day-to-day in our division. Over 80% of our arrests are alcohol and drug-related, and it’s troublesome to be supportive of one thing that has the potential for severe abuse.”
In line with a Cato Institute examine of information from states which have legalized marijuana, there are certainly some states which have seen a rise in crime following the legalization of marijuana. The crime fee in Alaska and Massachusetts elevated put up‐legalization by 152 and 57 crimes per 100,000 folks, respectively, in contrast with the nationwide pattern.
Nevertheless, different states truly noticed a lower of their crime fee, in response to the institute. Crime in Maine and Nevada decreased by 90 and 178 crimes per 100,000 folks, respectively, in contrast with the nationwide pattern put up‐legalization. Different states stayed flat with the nationwide pattern post-legalization.
At present, a Wyoming resident who brings medical marijuana to their house is twice a legal — as soon as for transporting marijuana and once more for having marijuana of their possession in Wyoming. Koltiska mentioned the police division had over 100 seizures of marijuana in 2021.
Advocates like Mitzel argue it’s time to scale back legal penalties for the possession and use of marijuana. In line with the poll measure being proposed, people couldn’t be incarcerated if a resident had 4 ounces of marijuana or much less on their individual, though fines could possibly be imposed.
“Within the later phases of her sickness, my buddy with breast most cancers misplaced her medical marijuana,” Mitzel mentioned. “She needed to pay a pair thousand {dollars} in authorized charges and died a legal. It simply actually bothered me that somebody who used medical marijuana to get via the day is taken into account a legal.”
Koltiska mentioned he had reservations about decreasing penalties for the possession of marijuana.
“My concern with upping it to 4 ounces is I don’t know if folks perceive simply how a lot 4 ounces is,” Koltiska mentioned. “From what we’ve seen, 4 ounces doesn’t signify particular person use. Primarily based on that quantity, you might probably be distributing. In my thoughts, 4 ounces just isn’t an quantity of marijuana for a single person.”
Mitzel nonetheless has an extended option to go in her signature assortment efforts, and he or she hopes to ultimately accumulate 3,000 signatures from Sheridan County residents. Statewide, organizers want to assemble the variety of signatures equal to fifteen% of votes solid within the final common election.Roughly 278,000 folks voted in Wyoming’s 2020 common election, which implies the initiatives would want greater than 41,000 signatures every.
Mitzel mentioned the occasion doesn’t count on to succeed in the required variety of signatures wanted to place the initiatives on the poll within the 2022 midterms. As an alternative, the occasion is aiming for the 2024 common election, she mentioned.
Even when the occasion collects the variety of signatures essential, success just isn’t assured, Mitzel mentioned.As soon as the signatures are collected, they should be turned in to the Secretary of State, whose workplace verifies every individual and their deal with towards the latest voter logs. As soon as the signatures are verified, the measures can be added to the poll and can must be accepted by the vast majority of Wyoming voters.
Wyoming has not efficiently handed a poll initiative since 1991, and plenty of residents of this conservative-leaning state are nonetheless reluctant to embrace hashish, Mitzel mentioned.
“I feel it’s potential, but it surely’s going to be onerous,” Mitzel mentioned. “There’s a sure component of individuals in the neighborhood which can be very immune to it….I simply wish to see the folks of Wyoming have an opportunity to vote on this concern. What’s the need of the folks within the state? It’s time to seek out out what the folks need.”
The efforts to move the poll initiatives come within the wake of repeated failed makes an attempt to move medical marijuana laws within the Wyoming Legislature, Mitzel mentioned. Throughout the 2021 legislative session, a pair of bipartisan payments — one that might have approved a examine on medical marijuana and one other aimed toward full legalization — died with no listening to within the Home.