Kenosha, Rock counties see no surge in marijuana crossing border after Illinois legalization

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said Friday he is not concerned about Wisconsin residents who plan to purchase marijuana in Illinois and bring it back to Wisconsin.

“There are people up in Wisconsin, all across this country that have smoked marijuana probably since they were whatever age they started. Some probably started young. It’s nothing that we’re not accustomed to.”

Beth said he is not aware of a single traffic stop that has resulted in a marijuana possession charge since Illinois dispensaries began selling products. The Rock County Sheriff's Office, which also borders Illinois near a dispensary, said their last traffic stop resulting in a possession charge was Tuesday, before the law even changed.

The Wisconsin State Patrol says they will continue enforcement of Wisconsin laws and take appropriate enforcement action based on the traffic stop.

But they aren’t doing anything different, and neither is Beth.

“We’re not building a wall," Beth said. "We’re not going to have Mexico pay for a wall along the state line. We’re not doing extra surveillance. We’re not doing road blocks.”

Beth says just because you can smoke marijuana in Illinois,  you still can’t drive on it.

If you’re suspected of driving after smoking, you might get your blood drawn.

“With alcohol, we’ve got little PBTs, a little portable breath test equipment," Beth said. "We could take them down to breathe in a breathalyzer. We don’t have that technology.”

A second marijuana possession charge can be a felony in Wisconsin.