Prosecutors: Major Increase Of Marijuana Crossing Oklahoma-Colorado State Line

Prosecutors in the Oklahoma panhandle say they've already seen a "major increase" of marijuana crossing the Oklahoma-Colorado state line.

Thursday, January 2nd 2014, 6:31 pm

By: News 9

Prosecutors: Major Increase Of Marijuana Crossing Oklahoma-Colorado State Line

Prosecutors in the Oklahoma panhandle say they've already seen a "major increase" of marijuana crossing the Oklahoma-Colorado state line. With recreational use now legal for Colorado, officials in Oklahoma are bracing for an uncertain future.

According to WeedMaps.com, the closest legal cannabis shop to Oklahoma is about an eight hour drive from Oklahoma City. It's only three hours away, if you live near Boise City.

"It's close enough to where you can run up there, have a nice chill environment up in Colorado," an Oklahoma native and Colorado marijuana user told News 9. "No one gets hurt on it. There's no overdosing."

Oklahoma officials disagree and say there are no plans to soften their approach on drugs, including marijuana.

"No matter the amount, with or without a prescription, you're subject to arrest [in Oklahoma]," Oklahoma Highway Patrol Capt. George Brown said.

Brown's colleagues at the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics are giving the same warning.

"We're aggressively going after anybody [who is] moving drugs through Oklahoma, but our concern is we're going to see more of it because [Colorado] now opened up greater accessibility to marijuana," OBN spokesperson Mark Woodward said.

Prosecutors and state of narcotic agents say they started seeing high-grade, large shipments of pot coming into Oklahoma starting in 2011, when Colorado legalized the drug for medical purposes. Since then, cannabis supporters in Oklahoma said it's been time for a dramatic, progressive change in the Sooner State.

"When we talk to our colleagues in these other states [where marijuana is legal], they basically tell us it's a nightmare to regulate," said Woodward.

The cannabis is commonly sent through the mail or driven across state lines. Although, OHP says it has not seen a recent spike in drug violations on Oklahoma highways.