Sex offenses lead police to predict what April brings

By Sophia Blankmeyer

With a sex offense happening every year on 4/20, police are questioning and wondering if marijuana is the next “date rape” drug in Cache county. 

Police are concerned because of how accessible marijuana is, that people will continue in the behavior of past years with getting high and assaulting others. 

“Before the legalization in Colorado, we would just see pipes,” said Captain Tyson Budge of the Logan Police Department. “Now, everyone has marijuana, and plenty of it.” 

With a day associated with parties and marijuana, local police mention 4/20 is becoming a very predictable day of sex offenses. 

“We have seen in the past 5 years a sex offense every single year on 4/20,” Budge said. 

The Utah State University Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information Office, SAAVI, has tons of safe confidential counseling. The information they provide is about sexual assault, rape, dating violence, domestic violence or stalking. SAAVI has not seen a remarkable increase of people reporting sexual assault during this time of year. 

“Marijuana can lead to impaired thinking and decision making, which can create an environment for assault,” said Felicia Gallegos, a worker at SAAVI.

Police are predicting that this year will include many calls, arrests, and at least one reported sex offense.