Authorities warn of marijuana sprayed with weed killer

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma narcotics agents have a warning: <br><br>Don't smoke red dope. <br><br>State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control agents are using a weed killer laced with

Wednesday, July 23rd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma narcotics agents have a warning:

Don't smoke red dope.

State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control agents are using a weed killer laced with red dye to spray fields of wild-growing marijuana since June.

Bureau spokesman Mark Woodward says the red dye is to warn the public the plants have been sprayed with a weed killer.

Many of the fields where marijuana grows wild are in northwestern Oklahoma where farmers once grew it for the production of hemp. Woodward says the marijuana reproduces itself and will reappear each year unless sprayed.

The spraying will continue until the fall.