Crime, homelessness, opioids and marijuana, the downside of living in a beautiful place, has generated a response from the law. Marijuana, for instance, is no longer something with a chill factor as it was in the old days.
Back in 2012 when Colorado voters approved the use of recreational marijuana, the cannabis content was 5%.
“It’s the amount of cannabis in the product that is getting people high; the potency today is about 70% cannabis, something nobody ever saw coming,” said Commissioner Erik Stone, speaking Sept. 26 at the commissioners’ meeting. “The adage that ‘pot is not addictive,’ is no longer true.”
Beyond the 70% content, some marijuana contains up to 99.9 % cannabis content and is easily available, Stone said.
“The way social media is being used to sell opioids is astounding,” he said.
Marijuana marketers use code words and pictures of illicit substances and, as a result, the increase in sales of drugs has impacted families and individuals, Stone said.
“In southern Teller County we’re seeing it a little bit more,” he added.
Stone is on the Region 16 Opioid Abatement Council, appointed after the Pikes Peak Region received $66 million of opioid settlement money, a result of the nationwide lawsuit against some pharmaceutical companies. The council is dedicated to using a portion of the funds for prevention and treatment for addicts.
This week, Stone, with the council, is in Loveland attending the State Opioid Policy Convention.
“We are going to learn from each other, find out what others are doing,” he said. “We discovered that we have limited data on youth from 10 to 21 who are severely impacted not only by the opioid crisis but high-potency marijuana.”
Frequent marijuana users often have trouble getting the original high and start seeking stronger substances such as opioids and fentanyl, Stone added.
“There is a very clear link between high potency cannabis and opioids,” he said.
A recent letter released from Sheriff Jason Mikesell caught the attention of the local chapter of Braver Angels and co-founder Holly Sample who balked at the seeming connection between crime and homeless in Cripple Creek.
The letter states that county and city officials have “pledged robust and dedicated action to address homelessness and crime.”
The letter is included in an article in the Sept. 25 edition of The Courier.
Speaking to the commissioners, Sample complimented the inter-agency efforts but requested more information about the “dedicated action,” against crime and homelessness.
“These are both serious problems, but I’d like to see more data on specific crimes before attributing them all to the homeless population,” she said. “They also seem very likely to be victims of crime. I’m here to ask you to take a wide view of the problem and engage more community stakeholders.”
Braver Angels would be glad to host a town hall meeting with business and church leaders, property owners, educators, social service agencies and the homeless, she said.
“Let’s get all these people together to ensure that we have a prosperous and sustainable stake in community development,” she added.
(Braver Angels is a national organization founded after the 2016 election to help citizens engage in civil discourse.)
The sheriff’s letter was intended to start a conversation, said Commissioner Dan Williams.
“There was no intention to vilify the homeless,” he added. “But we do have some nefarious activity here such as sewage draining into streams; it’s a public safety issue.”
The sheriff’s office has found drugs, meth labs and fentanyl in the homeless camps, Williams said.
“None of that letter is directed at any homeless but we do have people who don’t want help,” he said. “And we don’t have the capacity up here to house the homeless.”
In August, a woman and her dog were assaulted inside a camper outside of Cripple Creek. To date, the attacker has not been caught.
“There was an outcry after that last crime,” Williams said.
There are people living in the camps who have rap sheets and warrants, Stone said.
“There is a problem which is increasing; homelessness is part of that but there is nothing compassionate about meeting people where they are and not recognizing that, unfortunately, a byproduct of illicit drugs is human trafficking and dealing.”
While the commissioners gave the thumbs up to a community conversation, Williams added that Sheriff Mikesell and the Cripple Creek Police Department will be looking for predators.
On a lighter note, 4-H member Garrett Hall spoke up at the podium about the proceeds of the money he earned from the auction in August at the county fair.
“I am donating 100 pounds of beef to the Aspen Mine Center,” he said.
The boy was there with his brother Gage and mother Kelsey Hall. Stone lauded the gift.
“Thank you for thinking of other people,” he said.
Crime, homelessness, opioids and marijuana, the downside of living in a beautiful place, has generated a response from the law. Marijuana, for instance, is no longer something with a chill Read More