The Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab is being honored for an innovative marijuana testing program. GBI Director Vernon Keenan said Wednesday the August Vollmer Excellence in Forensic Science Award from the International Association of Chiefs of Police recognizes the program developed by the lab's chemistry section for local law enforcement agencies in Georgia. More than 1,600 officers certified by the GBI analyze marijuana seized in their jurisdictions and testify in their localcommunities. That enables marijuana cases to move through the courts quicker than other controlled substance cases and has reduced the GBI lab's load of marijuana cases by 98 percent. The award will be presented in October at the annual IACP Conference in Denver.
(Associated Press)
