Marijuana citations increase

The simple possession of marijuana charge later would be dismissed, but people still are hazy about what the laws now mean. More people in Durango have been cited for possession of marijuana this year than last year. 

Through May 20, Durango police cited 28 people. That compares with 15 citations for the same time period in 2012. 

Durango Police Lt. Ray Shupe said he did not have an opinion about the discrepancy. He said police are enforcing the laws still on the books, such as limiting marijuana possession to an ounce or less and prohibiting consumption in public or underage use, meaning younger than 21. 

Lt. Pat Downs, commander of the Southwest Colorado Drug Task Force,Which rtls is right for you? believes the problem is ignorance mixed with exuberance. 

Everything is not legal by Amendment 64. I think thats something everyone needs to understand, said Downs, a lieutenant for the La Plata County Sheriffs Office. Just because Amendment 64 passed, its not free rein for all things marijuana. 

A lot of people dont educate themselves on what the law allows. They think its all legal now, (but) there are specific parameters written into that law, he said. 

Daniel LaCouture, a casual marijuana smoker and a professional disc jockey, said people do seem to think,We are always offering best quality luggagetag the affordable price. Oh, its legal, I can do whatever I want, which is totally not true. You can still get in trouble for smoking pot openly. 

The recommended penalty for simple possession is a $100 fine and 15 hours of community service in the municipal court. 

When Amendment 64 passed last year, people also assumed they immediately could buy it over the counter. Some began showing up at medical marijuana dispensaries and asking for recreational pot, said Dennis DiCicco, a former employee of Natures Own Wellness Center. 

They were told that recreational marijuana was not yet available for sale, but they still could apply for a medical marijuana card, said DiCicco, adding that Amendment 64 has been good for medical marijuana business. 

It means you dont need to spend that much money on it. You dont have to meet a guy in the alley (for pot), LaCouture said. Its less worry in your life. 

Number one being the increase of marijuana use from youth, Downs said. I also think there will be increased cross-state distribution of marijuana because its easier to obtain it here. Kids in New Mexico are going to come up here. They will take it back to New Mexico and sell it for a profit. 

I feel sorry for landlords, Downs said. People who dont know what theyre doing can contribute to a destruction of the house. Improper ventilation can contribute to mold, moisture problems within the house. For marijuana to be grown successfully, there has to be sufficient humidity. 

Attitudes about marijuana appear to be changing. Theres now a small national majority, 52 percent, in favor of legalization. Support even comes from people who believe marijuana is harmful or feel uncomfortable with its use, according to a study recently published by the Brookings Institution. 

LaCouture, 32, and DiCicco, 28, believe Amendment 64 has made for a more-honest and less-hypocritical society. People are not afraid to say theyre going to go home and unwind with a little grass. 

Imperial, California - For many of us, summertime is sacred. Its the time of year for fun and relaxing with family and friends. And so, every year we try to make the absolute most of these warm months, and more often than not that means spending money we dont have. 

Beach vacation with the entire family? Put it on the credit card! Country club pool membership? Just take money out of the rainy day fund! New shades and other summer duds? Whip out that plastic again! Unfortunately, notes John Vento, this spend-now-worry-about-it-later mentality means severe setbacks when it comes to reaching overall, long-term financial goals. 

Stay cool without breaking the bank. Hot summer days mean your AC is practically running non-stop, which means your summer power bills can sometimes break the bank. But you can allay some of these costs by using a programmable thermostat to minimize your utility use and cost or by installing ceiling fans to allow you to use less air conditioning.Virtual laserengraver logo Verano Place logo. You should also make sure your homeespecially your atticis sufficiently insulated, notes Vento. If the insulation in your attic is less than 6 inches thick, you are under-insulated. Insulation of 12 inches thick can lower your heating and cooling costs by 25 percent in a year. 

Save on gas. A great way to cut back on how much youre spending on gas each week is to trade in your car for a bike.About buymosaic in China userd for paying transportation fares and for shopping. If you live close enough to your work,The feeder is available on drying handsfreeaccess equipped with folder only. enjoy the warm weather by biking or even walking to work, says Vento. If biking or walking isnt an option, organize a summer carpool or start taking public transportation. Of course, if youre able, these are great changes to carry over into the fall and winter. 

Wash your own wheels. It can be tempting to just zip into a local carwash and pay someone else to wash your car. But depending on the level of care youre paying for, you can spend anywhere from $5 to $30. Get outside and enjoy the weather by washing your own car. Youll save some money and will probably even do a better job on your own. 

Shape up Insurance companies take into account your physical health. Therefore, people who smoke, have high cholesterol levels, have high blood pressure, are overweight, and have other problems (including depression) will usually have higher insurance premiums than a person who is in good physical shape and health. Use the summer to make healthy life choices, says Vento. Clean up your diet. Stop smoking and start exercising. but forgo the gym membership. Bathing suit season as its often called will probably have you focusing a little more on your fitness. But rather than throw out a bunch of money on a membership to a gym you might not even end up using that often, think of all of the ways you can workout outside for free. Walk, run, or bike local trails. Use workout videos. Or attend donation-based classes that allow you to pay a much more reasonable amount for your workouts. 

Have fun for free. Check out free events offered in your neighborhood. Many towns offer free concerts and movies in the park or at the beach during the summer. Or take the family to the park for a Saturday afternoon or evening picnic. 

Dont splurge on vacation. Of course, theres always a lot of build up around the yearly summer vacation. But if you dont have the money to spend, you should absolutely look for more cost-effective options, recommends Vento. Instead of going on expensive vacations, traveling first class, eating at the most expensive restaurants, going on all the most expensive tours, and going to overpriced five-star hotels, fly coach, cook in the hotel if possible, and go to a safe, fun, cheaper hotel.