Police in Massachusetts concerned about recreational marijuana being legal

By: News Staff

news@abc6.com

SOMERSET, M.A. – When Somerset’s police chief George McNeil first learned question four had passed making recreational marijuana legal in Massachusetts, he admits he was disappointed.

"This is just opening up a Pandora box of problems going forward and people I don’t think thought of that," said Chief George McNeil of Somerset Police.

His biggest concern for his department is operators driving under the influence; saying pot is a lot different than it was even just a few years ago.

“People don’t realize how high THC levels are in marijuana when I was growing up they were probably 7 or 8 percent now it’s up closer to 30 percent,” said Chief McNeil. 

Departments across the state are still trying to figure out how they’ll be able to test drivers if they suspect they’re operating under the influence since there’s nothing like a breathalyzer available.

“There’s no portable test we can take with us, other than a blood test which can be taken at a hospital in the case of a crash but when there’s no injury it’s going to be field sobriety test and that’s hard to prove, many cases get dismissed,” said Chief McNeil.

Chief McnNeil says crashes are on the rise in Colorado since that state legalized recreational marijuana, and he fears it will be the same way in Massachusetts.

He mentions a crash back in March that killed Massachusetts State Trooper Thomas Clardy; when a driver slammed into his cruiser on the Mass Pike.

“He admitted being under the influence of marijuana so the impairment is only going to add to the problems we have with drunk driving,” said Chief McNeil.

The new law in Massachusetts goes into effect on December 15th, 2016.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016