LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — In an effort to crack down on road fatalities and DUI drivers across the Las Vegas Valley, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police partner with Planet 13 on a unique training class to help officers spot marijuana intoxication.
There are “Green Labs” held by law enforcement all across the country, but the seminars at marijuana dispensary Planet 13 help train officers in an immersive way in a controlled environment: volunteers consume marijuana at Planet 13’s lounge, and law enforcement conduct field sobriety tests on subjects.
All volunteers are Planet 13 employees, and they arrange a designated driver before participation.
Officers from different bureaus at LVMPD and different jurisdictions across Southern Nevada can participate in the class.
Instructors tell FOX5, every person’s body processes marijuana differently– and the duration of a “high” may last numerous hours.
“It affects you and your driving habits and your behaviors, and it slows your reaction time down. And we see it on a daily basis,” said Lt. Cody Fulwiler of the LVMPD Traffic Bureau. “Traveling at 45 miles an hour, you’re traveling a pretty good distance, and if you need to slow down or stop abruptly, taking 10 seconds away from the already less reaction time could mean a fatal collision.
Some of the telltale signs of a marijuana high: body tremors, eye tremors, swaying, and delayed reaction time.
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“If you’re not trained on it, you’re probably not going to even recognize it,” Fulwiler said. “And to make it known [to drivers] that it’s okay to do these types of things here in Las Vegas, but it’s not okay to get behind the wheel,” he said.
Officers tour Planet 13 and learn about the various products containing THC, and unique food and beverage items, such as water and spices for food.
“It gives the opportunity for the officers, the deputies, the troopers that come through to see the types of facilities that the folks that come to Las Vegas go to–and different types and forms that THC or marijuana is being sold: it’s liquid forms and dabs. It’s not just a joint. There are other forms, and to be familiar with that when they’re out in the field,” said Lt. Cody Fulwiler of the LVMPD Traffic Bureau.
Fulwiler said the class has already helped officers spot medical emergencies, and an officer was able to aid a festivalgoer at EDC.
Planet 13’s founder and co-CEO, Larry Scheffler, explains that the dispensary and lounge already work closely with LVMPD, and the partnership on the Green Lab was the next step.
“We thought, what a great collaboration,” Scheffler tells FOX5; more than 80% of customers are tourists who use taxis or rideshares, and workers already receive training to help people use responsibly and avoid driving.
“There’s a lot to learn. By showing [Metro] how we use it, how we take care of our customers that are here, what to watch for– for them also, even when they’re stopping somebody.–I think it’s a big help for them to be able to have these classes here and work with our people and us work with them,” he said.
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