Colorado Pot Decriminalization Raises Concerns in Wyoming

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Law enforcement officers in Wyoming say they have no plans to slacken their enforcement of the state's marijuana laws if Colorado votes next week to decriminalize pot.

The Colorado ballot measure stands a shot of passing. Polls show more people in favor of the measure than against it.

Approval of the state constitutional amendment would allow people in Wyoming to travel to Colorado and legally buy up to an ounce of marijuana there.

The Associated Press reports that bringing that pot back to Wyoming would be another matter. Cheyenne Police Chief Brian Kozak says anybody who tried doing that would be arrested and taken to jail under Wyoming law.

Kozak says he's concerned that easier access to marijuana could result in more impaired drivers on Cheyenne's streets.

A recent survey held by the KOWB News Center showed that just over half of respondents thought that legalization in Colorado would be an issue of some kind in the state of Wyoming, and just under one half saying they didn't think it would be an issue at all.

At the beginning of the election season, calls were made by the KOWB News Center to the Wyoming Attorney General's Office, Laramie Law Enforcement, and the University of Wyoming to ask if they had concerns over the Colorado amendment.  All three declined to comment.