Despite new Illinois law, State Patrol says pot's still illegal in Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Iowa State Patrol has some words of advice for anyone coming back into Iowa after taking advantage of Illinois's new recreational marijuana law...

"That drug is illegal in Iowa. Not only can you not possess that illicit drug, you also can't drive having used that substance" says State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla.

As the Illinois law took effect January 1st, Dinkla says it's too early to tell if it's caused more arrests in Iowa.

"When you stop an individual and find them with that substance, you have to send it in to our DCI lab to have it confirmed. Then that comes back to the officer before they can charge that person with (possession) of that substance" he says.

Dinkla says it will up to the individual State Patrol districts in Eastern Iowa to decide if they'll increase enforcement for pot coming across the Mississippi River from Illinois.


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