Basically , it works like this . The first part of the day , the officers learn the medical benefits of cannabis and the history of its prohibition from April Hatch , MSN , RN with the Cannabis Care Team . They also get a refresher on the proper field sobriety recognition techniques . Then , the officers go and tour a local licensed cannabis facility to get a better understanding of the professionalism and security required to be a licensed cannabis facility . When they return , six to eight medical marijuana patients consume their average dose of cannabis ; then , the officers take them through their tests . Each patient has a scannable QR code behind them that the officers scan , then record their results on their device . Then the patients leave and purposely over-consume cannabis , then go back through the same process with the officers .
with long-held standards , and the patients are told to bring their cannabis to the police station so they can smoke in front of law enforcement . Understandably , nerves on both sides are being tested . But by the end of the day , it ’ s like a bridge has been built between the two groups . As the day ends , they have a better appreciation and respectful understanding of each other .
“ There are other groups that host green labs [ like education ] internationally ; however , none that we know of that collect the level of information we collect during our labs . We have integrated Oral Fluid testing throughout the lab that will give us results on the varying levels of THC [ in all its forms ] in the body . We also have instrumentation
During Hutton ’ s Green Lab classes , law enforcement officers are able to tour cultivation facilities giving officers a better understanding of the technology and professionalism in which Missouri cannabis businesses operate .
I was slightly hesitant when Hutton first approached me and The EVOLUTION Magazine to assist in these Green Labs . But after helping him put the first one together and seeing the results firsthand , I understood the importance of his vision . After the first round , the majority of the patients would have been considered okay to operate a vehicle . This is very eye-opening for many of the officers who traditionally believe cannabis use equals impairment . After the second round , most patients fail the tests , which many times can be eye-opening for the cannabis users . At the end of the study , all the test results are put up on a big screen while all the patients sit and exchange comments with the police officers . “ There are many questions and conversations that also take place over the course of the lab between the law enforcement students and the cannabis consumers / volunteers , which facilitates a greater understanding for one another ,” explained Hutton .
At every Green Lab , the day starts with both sides being hesitant . The officers are facing new realizations with cannabis use that conflict that monitors the changes in eye movement of the volunteers throughout the day . These resources paired with the specialized drug recognition evaluation offer the highest level of evaluation available to law enforcement officers in the field at this time ,” Hutton concluded .
The next Green Lab is scheduled for June 30 in West Plains , MO . The biggest need right now for Hutton ’ s Green Lab project is financial support to help cover registration fees for students ( police officers ) because little to no federal funds help cover training costs , and very few police departments are able to cover them .
To host a Green Lab and / or help sponsor student police officers , visit www . Extract-Ed . com .
Clayton Stallings is the Director of Sales & Marketing for
The EVOLUTION Magazine
May 2023 37