One month in, no big change in C.O. pot tickets

Area law enforcement issued at least 13 citations related to marijuana in Central Oregon during the first month of legalization.

In Jul,y Bend police issued six total citations; half of those were given to people consuming marijuana, one individual was cited for showing marijuana in public, a minor was cited for possessing marijuana and there was a felony arrest for illegal marijuana manufacturing after police responded to an explosion related to processing marijuana concentrates.

In Redmond, police officers issued seven citations over the last month. Six of those were to minors in possession of marijuana and another person was cited for possessing twice the legal limit.

Redmond police Lt. Mike Kidwell said those numbers are about average for any given month, and it’s too soon to tell if police will see any new crime trends under the new laws.

Bend police spokesman Lt. Clint Burleigh agrees.

“I think it’s going to be a year or two years down the road before you start seeing — do we have an influx?” Burleigh said Wednesday.

In Deschutes County, there were no marijuana DUIIs in July — the same as in June.

“That’s too early to say marijuana is not going to be a problem with driving,” said Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel, although he added he suspected it might not be.

“I don’t think we’ll see a big spike in impaired driving from marijuana, but we’re going to watch it,” he said.

One of the biggest challenges for law enforcement has been learning the rules under the new law.

Burleigh said, “This last week, we’ve had the district attorney come in to talk to our officers and try to give us the best advice and education they can in how we can enforce marijuana as Measure 91 is written. We’re trying to still find where everything fits and how to interpret the laws.”

Prineville police did not issue any marijuana citations in July. Madras police did not provide data to NewsChannel 21 before news time.