LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Albany County saw a nearly 50 percent increase in the number of felony criminal cases filed in 2016, with a major increase in the number of drug cases.

In 2016, 116 felony criminal cases were filed in District Court compared to 78 in 2015. Of those, 59 cases in 2016 involved at least one drug-related charge, compared to 14 in 2015.

Of the 2016 drug cases, 35 were related to marijuana and 14 cases involved methamphetamine. Only five cases involved cocaine and two involved heroin.

Albany County Sheriff Dave O'Malley says he attributes the higher number of felony charges to the legalization of marijuana in neighboring Colorado and increased efforts by state and local law enforcement.

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