Dinosaur now has its own marijuana dispensary open for business on Brontosaurus Blvd. While Moffat County has a ban on this type of establishment, a ballot measure passed in Dinosaur over a year ago allows for the business within Dinosaur city limits. Marijuana became legal in Colorado in 2012 with the voter approved Amendment 64. Utah law enforcement are of course aware of the new business and how it may affect eastern Utah. “The reality of it is it’s in Colorado and it’s legal,” shares Uintah County Sheriff Vance Norton. “It will provide jobs and help with Dinosaur’s economy. It should only be a concern for us if the products are brought into Uintah County. We do have deputies that already work that area when working DUI shifts and speed enforcement shifts. We already have a large amount of marijuana coming into our area from Colorado; they just had to travel further into Colorado to get it.” Sheriff Norton explains that now that marijuana is available just over the border, it will likely increase the distribution in the Basin as well as increase the amount of DUI drugs in our area. “We will remain vigilant in enforcing Utah’s laws against it and keep those under the influence of it off the streets,” continues Sheriff Norton, “but just like alcohol DUI’s, we can’t catch them all. We will need the public’s help in reporting DUI’s.” And one final note, while officers take seriously their duty to enforce Utah law, Sheriff Norton emphasizes that they will NOT be sitting in Colorado writing down license plate numbers and waiting for them to cross the state line. Utah Highway Patrol will also continue their patrols for criminal activity. “We are aware of potential criminal activity entering our state,” shares UHP Sgt. Kellie Oaks. “Highway Patrol will continue to enforce Utah’s drug trafficking, possession, and distribution laws to the fullest extent.”
