One of the places he was rousted was Kansas, and an attorney there says such profiling appears to be happening routinely -- so much so that he's considered buying a billboard at the state line warning people coming from Colorado to dump their pot.
According to Cal Williams, an attorney based in Colby, Kansas, the billboard would say, "'Stop and get rid of this. Don't come into Kansas with it. You can go to prison on less than an ounce.'"
Another variation on this theme is mentioned by Leonard Frieling, a Denver-based lawyer with whom Williams has brainstormed on the idea. "I imagine an electronic billboard like those speedometer signs that tell you how fast you're going -- 36 miles per hour, or whatever," he notes. "But this one would say, 'You are crossing the state line in eight minutes. Would you like to stay with us for the next five years?'"This isn't much of an exaggeration. "As little as 25 grams can be a felony in Kansas," Williams points out. "There's a range from 25 grams to 450 grams, and even for someone with no record, a conviction could carry 46 to 51 months in a penitentiary."
Moreover, wrist slaps aren't common in these cases, whether an individual had previously steered clear of wrongdoing. "It is presumptive prison," Williams says, "with 49 months being the middle range; that's likely what it would be. And based on the fact that an ounce is 28.35 grams, less than an ounce is enough to send you to prison."
As for whether profiling is taking place in Kansas, Chester's tale suggests that it is. He told us that he and a friend were halfway through Kansas in a truck with Colorado plates when they were pulled over by a state trooper for the high crime of driving in the left lane; a law there says cars should use that lane only when passing and then return to the right. But the trooper made it clear he had other possible crimes on his mind."He said, 'Hey, listen, a lot of people are trafficking marijuana out of Colorado. Some of it's for medical purposes, some of it's for profit. Do you mind if I look in your truck?'" Chester revealed.
The trooper's search turned up nothing more suspicious than rolling papers, so he eventually sent Chester and pal on their way without a citation. But that didn't mean he'd given up on his tactic. "He said they were keeping their eye out for Colorado plates," Chester recalled.
How often does this kind of thing happen? And how frequently does it result in troopers finding marijuana?
Continue for more about marijuana profiling in Kansas.
