WINONA, Minn. – The state will need more police trained as drug recognition evaluators when a looser Minnesota marijuana law goes into effect, says the Winona County deputy Chad Myers. He now is one of only a handful of DREs in southeast Minnesota. Counties around Winona rely on him to evaluate field tests from suspected drug-impaired drivers. Myers noted the state has only 200 officers certified to determine whether marijuana has been involved in a traffic accident or crime. Not enough, Myers said, noting more use of recreational marijuana can be expected to increase drug-imairment cases. The state will need 500 DREs at least, he said. There are no field tests for impairment due to marijuana, as there are for alcohol, he said.
Earlier: How they voted: Marijuana legalization / 2
Earlier: Senate echoes House, OKs marijuana as legal
Earlier: How they voted: Marijuana legalization / 1
Earlier: Marijuana legalization bill passes House
Earlier: Democrats push to OK adults-only marijuana
Earlier: Sheriff: Police unready for marijuana problems
Earlier: Walz: Let’s legalize marijuana; prohibition a failure
Myers. The only certified drug recognition evaluator in Winona and neighboring counties.