In the 1980s, many states – including Colorado – created legislation that began to enhance sentencing for certain drug crimes based on where the crimes were committed. It is the birth of this type of legislation that gave us Drug-Free Zones.

The idea behind Drug-Free Zones is to discourage the commission of crimes in places where children are more likely to be present, such as schools. However, Colorado doesn’t simply

 

Drug-free zone laws enacted during the 1980’s “War on Drugs” were meant to discourage drug activity near schools and other places children frequent, and protect them from drug trafficking activity. It sounded like a good idea at the time, and in theory, few would argue against this premise.

 

In practice, however, drug-free zones aren’t necessarily effective deterrents. Instead, they often simply impose unreasonably harsh penalties, and include drug