Of Tattoos and Pot

In Bell County crime this morning we have these two stories:

• Killeen PD investigates kidnapping report
• Harker Heights PD looks into stolen tattoo removal machine

In other news around the web. The movement to legalize marijuana seems to be gaining ground. There is a story in the Wall Street Journal about a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana for adults in California. 

The initiative would legalize marijuana possession for adults 21 and older. It would also allow local governments to tax and regulate the drug's sales. One of the supporter's main arguments is that taxing pot could generate more than $1 billion a year for California, which is projected to face annual $20 billion budget shortfalls until at least June 2015.

The initiative got enough petition signatures to make it to the ballot. It's up in the air as to whether it will pass. However, given the passage of medical marijuana in California a few years ago I'd guess the chances are somewhat better than not that it will pass.

On a similar note,  NPR was reporting on a study that indicated that while cigarette smoking was down for teens, marijuana use was up among them. In their story they quote the study authors as saying:

"Not only is use rising, but a key belief about the degree of risk associated with marijuana use has been in decline among young people even longer, and the degree to which teens disapprove of use of the drug has recently begun to decline. Changes in these beliefs and attitudes are often very influential in driving changes in use."

Even if we don't live in California, we'll likely be affected here in Texas when folks attitudes towards marijuana use change and use increases. Our agencies will likely wrestle with prioritizing marijuana enforcement given society's changing attitudes.

Even if our agencies don't make enforcement of marijuana prohibitions a priority, we could see an increase in DWI cases involving people stoned on marijuana. Is your agency ready to test DWI suspects for marijuana instead of alcohol? Are your officers trained to enforce DWI laws involving marijuana?