Pullman Police Commander Chris Tenant

This afternoon I spoke with Commander Chris Tenant of the Pullman Police.

In regards to marijuana laws, Tenant said the toughest challenges are poorly written marijuana laws because of medicinal use (approved 7-10 years ago).

Law allows a 60 day supply, but what is a 60 day supply.

Manufacturing (growing) marijuana (unless for medicinal use) is a felony.

Tenant personally believes the government should “Legalize it and tax the shit out of it.”

Tenant does not buy the argument that legalization would stop the drug trade, because police efforts would still have to be focused on stopping growers from selling untaxed pot.

Tenant said decriminalization would still require the same paperwork, because police would still be issuing citations (level 2 civil infraction) - $100 fine.

Tenant said “moonshining” disappeared because it was a difficult process, but growing marijuana would be easier.

Tenant said people smoking marijuana “get sleepy and get the munchies,” and are not prone to
violent criminal activity.

Alcohol use carries higher risk for violence lately because of energy drinks. Tenant said, in the past, people would “get drunk and go home and sleep it off.” These days, because of the energy drinks, people stay out later and get drunker, and are more prone to get into fights.

Tenant believes the problems with alcohol use make it much worse than marijuana. However, he does believe that it adds the criminal element because of the money involved in selling it.

Because drug dealers want to protect their investments, they buy guns.
If the money was taken out of the illegal drug trade (through marijuana legalization), then violence would go down.

Pullman sees none of the money from drug prosecutions. Whitman county gets it because drug cases are filed through the district court.