Kansas AG studies impact of Colorado marijuana on his state

Updated 8:55 am, Sunday, October 16, 2016

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Early results from a survey of law enforcement agencies conducted by the Kansas attorney general suggest legal Colorado marijuana is having a big impact on Kansas, but it may not be all negative.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt received responses from 390 Kansas law enforcement agencies and district attorneys indicating that less marijuana is being confiscated, but it's much higher in potency than pot smuggled in from Mexico.

Survey results also show that the legal system has been swept by changing attitudes about marijuana, with some jurisdictions no longer enforcing pot laws much. When they do they're finding it tough to win convictions, The Wichita Eagle (http://bit.ly/2e22SZt) reported.

"The criminal justice system is moving in the direction of what appears to be changes in public attitude," Schmidt said. "Obviously not moving as far as some people would like, but there is obviously an evolution or a change, and this showed that it has reached the enforcement level as well."

Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington have legalized marijuana. California, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada will vote on marijuana legalization this fall.