“As a former prosecutor, I am very familiar with the different models we have designed to regulate marijuana. In the last few years I have had the opportunity to learn about how prohibition is not as effective as tax and regulate. It is my sincere hope that law enforcement professionals will take this opportunity to come learn for themselves about the new trends in marijuana policy that are occurring, not just in Arizona but across the country, and the benefits these changes offer to law enforcement,” says Demitri Downing, conference chair of the 2nd Annual Southwest Cannabis Conference and Expo.
All Arizona law enforcement is being invited to attend the 2nd Annual SWCC Expo for free to learn how a tax and regulate model of marijuana enforcement can improve public safety.
The SWCC Expo is partnering with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition to sponsor free passes for all law enforcement officers who wish to attend the conference to educate themselves. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) is a nonprofit organization of police, judges, prosecutors, and other law enforcement officers working to legalize marijuana to improve public safety.
LEAP will be represented at the SWCC Expo by former DEA Special Agent Finn Selander and former Glendale Reserve Police Officer Jack Wilborn.
Selander explains, “As a DEA Special Agent, I saw that each year, U.S. demand for marijuana made drug cartels and street gangs richer, more powerful, and better armed, fueling turf wars that claim thousands of lives. It’s time to do our part to cripple the cartels by ending marijuana prohibition in Arizona.”
Wilborn adds, “I watched convictions for marijuana possession derail young people’s lives and create tension between police and the communities they serve. By regulating marijuana and treating it as a public health issue, our state can help young people, improve police-community relations, and refocus our law enforcement resources on investigating violent crime.”
This week, LEAP will be endorsing Proposition 205, which would legalize and regulate the adult use of marijuana in Arizona.
Legalizing and regulating marijuana will redirect millions of dollars of taxpayer money from the arrest and prosecution of nonviolent drug offenders to crime control in Arizona communities.
In addition to educating themselves about the next wave of changes to marijuana policy, the SWCC Expo encourages law enforcement professionals to learn about future employment opportunities in this industry.
For Questions Contact Conference Chair Demitri Downing directly at 520-909-4334 and LEAP Media Relations Associate Mikayla Hellwich at (240) 461-3066 or [email protected].
