County Attorney; Marijuana No Longer Lowest Priority

I received a message from Missoula County Attorney Fred Van Valkenburg late Friday afternoon that states..effective October 1^st, the policy of the Missoula County Attorney's Office with respect to the enforcement of misdemeanor marijuana related offenses will change from being the lowest priority of the office to a policy where the treatment of such offenses is to be handled in the same fashion as all other violations of the criminal law. I spoke with Mr. Van Valkenburg Friday about the policy change. That interview is attached.

Van Valkenburg advised Sheriff Carl Ibsen and Captain Watson of the Highway Patrol to pass the policy change onto their deputies and troopers.