PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE HEARS TASK FORCE REPORT

The list of regional medical marijuana users is growing like a weed,
according to Lt. Jerome Schiager, commander of the Northern Colorado
Drug Task Force, who presented data on current statistics and trends
to the Public Safety Committee at their August meeting. A thousand
names a month are added to the list of medical marijuana users in the
region, he told the committee, making marijuana law enforcement
difficult. Guys in their 20s in "chronic pain are going to specific
doctors to get prescriptions," Schiager said.

"There's a lot of marijuana out there and it's hard to distinguish
between (what's) medical and (what's) illegal, (which results in) an
abuse of the system," he added.

For instance, he said one doctor in Denver issued 200 letters for use
of medical marijuana in one day.

"I question that," the drug force commander said.

Medical marijuana is one of the biggest issues for the task force now.
The Department of Health is interested in tightening restrictions
concerning the drug; however, voters passed a law allowing the use of
medical marijuana, so the information that can be shared between law
enforcement and the Department of Health is limited, Schiager said.

The average age of male medical marijuana users today is 23, he said,
compared to 27, about 9 months ago. Those in their 20s, especially, he
said, now can go to doctors and get certificates for $300, for use of
medical marijuana.

"It's hard to measure chronic pain," he pointed out. "Marijuana is
being sold under an umbrella."

He observed that it's raining marijuana in Los Angeles. There are more
medical marijuana dispensaries there than McDonalds, he said.

"It's coming to Colorado. We're way behind the curve," he
said.

The advocates of its use are very organized, he said, and it's
creating a freight-train effect.

"We're trying to figure out how to keep it on the tracks," Schiager
said.

At the time, Estes Park police chief Wes Kufeld said there have been
two requests for medical marijuana in Estes Park. While it's illegal
to sell marijuana, the statute is subject to interpretation, Kufeld
said.

"It's difficult to understand," he said. "We're in the exploratory
stages now."

He has talked to town attorney Greg White about the issue. Among
questions considered are:

What will this mean for Estes Park

Who approves the use

Will there be an ordinance from the town board

Will dispensing be limited to pharmacies?

Kufeld said the law is written so loosely, use is hard to control.
While there might be a request for a repeal of the amendment to revise
it, legislators' hands are tied to some degree, he said. Some people
have suggested licensing both marijuana growers and dispensaries,
using inspections and regulations, to help control the problem.

"It's a state issue that needs to be cleared up," Kufeld said. "It's a
constitutional amendment."

Some municipalities have refused to issue business licenses to medical
marijuana suppliers, as a tactic to keep them out of business, but
Kufeld said that is against federal law. However, White is looking
into alternative solutions.

"It's quite a topic among municipal attorneys," Kufeld said. "It's an
extremely hot topic now, how to combat (misuse), because of the huge,
mushrooming growth."

Commissioners debated whether young people could amass $300 to buy a
certificate and decided that, in the world of drugs, it's probably a
regular occurrence.

Other newsLaw enforcement officials said there is more of a user
problem than a dealer problem in Estes Park. No meth labs have been
reported here in 12 years, they added.

The 16-person drug task force in Larimer County includes nine
detectives (three from Loveland), a sergeant, and Schiager, who
formerly served as a community service officer in the Estes Park
police department. They are supported by the Colorado National Guard.

The goals of the task force are to affect the supply side of narcotics
(especially the top and middle tiers of the supply chain); educate the
community concerning drugs; and to promote drug treatment programs.
According to their Web site, the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force
utilizes a "best practices" approach to substance abuse issues and,
in-turn, positively impacts the quality of life in Larimer County.

Drug investigations are high-tech, using cameras, trackers,
court-ordered telephone monitoring and undercover operations and
informants, Schiager said. They are dependent on good information, and
that is expensive, he added. They have a budget of $300,000 a year,
not including salaries. Their budget includes money for an offsite
building, vehicles, GPS trackers, cell phones, laptops and wireless
cameras.

"Drug enforcement is very high-tech," Schiager said. "Drug dealers are
smart, savvy. There are complex organizations we're trying to impact.
It's not a neighborhood house issue."

The task force's operating monies come from seizures of cash and
property. They can net $400,000 in seized assets in a good year, he
said, which are shared among various agencies. Other funding comes
from federal grants, although since 9/11, grant money is down,
Schiager said.

"Drug enforcement is less of a priority for the federal government,"
he added.

Trends the task force has noticed include:

Meth -- in the last five years, the number of home labs has decreased
significantly. That is a good thing, because of the public safety
issue, he said. The Stop Meth Act and the banning in 2003 of
ephedrine, the key ingredient in many contemporary meth recipes,
contributed to the decrease, as well as stiffer penalties, he said.
Meth is still coming over the border, with a distribution system like
that of cocaine and there is a return of small-scale labs.

"We measure our success in price," he said. "That's a strong measure
of what the supply is." When the availability of meth goes down, the
price goes up, and the availability of cocaine goes up, he said.

Heroin -- there's an increase in usage among those in their
20s.

Abuse of prescription drugs, such as oxycontin. As their price goes
up, users switch to heroin. The drugs are all opium-based, Schiager
said.

Law enforcement activity requires the support and assistance of the
general public, according to the task force Web site. Community
members are encouraged to contact the Drug Tip Hotline at (970)
416-2560 with information. All calls are kept confidential. Your tip
will remain anonymous, if requested.

Statistics

Total Drug Related Arrests

2008 - 90 arrests

Total Meth Arrests

2008 - 73 arrests

Total Meth Labs Dismantled

2008 - 3 labs

Meth Seized2008 - 8.0 pounds

Marijuana Seized

2008 - 37.5 pounds

Cocaine Seized

2008 - .73 pounds

Live Marijuana Plants Seized

2008 - 744 plants

According to the task force Web site, methamphetamine has become the
drug of choice in Larimer County in recent years. With the increased
use of this dangerous drug, comes the additional dangers associated
with manufacturing methamphetamine. The process for cooking
methamphetamine is very simple, and it can be done almost anywhere. We
are finding labs in houses, garages, vehicles, motel rooms and storage
lockers. The chemicals used in the production of methamphetamine are
themselves very volatile, and the cooking process contaminates the
area with toxic chemicals. These hazardous compounds soak into the
walls and carpets, creating unsafe living conditions. Individuals
exposed to these hazardous materials frequently develop significant
health problems.

In 2006, the Colorado State Legislature passed a law that requires
property owners to disclose to potential buyers when an illegal drug
lab has been found on their property. The law also gives a prospective
buyer the right to have the property tested for contaminants from an
illegal drug lab.