Attorney general speaks with Creek Valley students

CHAPPELL – As part of a tour throughout the state, Nebraska's chief law enforcement officer met with Creek Valley High School students this week.

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson, who was elected to the position about a year ago, spoke to the students for 45 minutes on Wednesday afternoon. He explained the functions of his office, discussed the Constitution and talked about current events affecting teenagers before taking questions.

"We are basically the law firm for the State of Nebraska," he said.

Peterson described the five bureaus of his office, which include criminal and civil litigation divisions, consumer protection, natural resources and a bureau that renders legal opinions regarding constitutionality issues when requested by state senators.

"With 65 lawyers, there's always a lot going on in the office," Peterson said.

The attorney general also discussed the state's ongoing lawsuit, with Oklahoma, against Colorado and its legalization of recreational marijuana.

Peterson said a more accurate term for the marijuana industry would be the impairment industry.

"I think what's going on in Colorado, if allowed into Nebraska, would have a significant cultural change," he told the students. "Because there's no question in my mind that the impairment industry stands to make a ton of money if they can open up boundaries and if they can reach people like you."

Because of Western Nebraska's close proximity to Colorado, Peterson said he wanted the students to be particularly wise in their decisions. Marijuana available today has a much higher THC concentration than in the past, he warned, and can be gateway opening drug.

After the assembly, Peterson explained he has been meeting with law enforcement officials in communities throughout Nebraska during the past few months.

"I don't want to sit in Lincoln and assume I know what's going on," he said. "I've been travelling all around the state in the last three to four months, since the Legislature got out of session, primarily speaking with law enforcement."

And when the timing works out, he meets with students to discuss the importance of the Constitution and remind them their age cohort can be a target, he said.

"We see it every week – young people who are targets," he said. "Whether it's through the Internet, cell phones or the marijuana industry."

Peterson said he hopes he can help make students aware of the dangers.

"I think there's a lot of value, if you're a young person, to understand you're a target," he remarked. "And if they understand they're a target, maybe they'll be a little bit more cautious in falling for things."