U.S. Attorney Holton: Medical Pot Grown in Oregon Making Its Way to Other States

One of the biggest fears voters, city leaders and law enforcement officials have about approving the use of medical marijuana is that the drug will fall into the hands of the wrong people, such as drug runners, teenagers and those without any illness to speak of.

That seems to be happening to a large degree with pot grown in Oregon, according to Dwight Holton, the state’s U.S. attorney.

An informal analysis of pot seizures over the last 12 months shows that marijuana from Oregon is making its way to several southern states – including Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee – as well as Idaho and Missouri.

Patients in Oregon have complained about not being able to find medical marijuana – even though supply estimates show more than enough weed is being grown in the state to satisfy demand. Some dispensaries and growers, it seems, are illegally moving product to other states without medical marijuana laws, where they can sell for a higher price.

This puts a rather large stain on the entire industry, and weed opponents could use this example when lobbying against MMJ laws.

The good news is that it seems leaders from Oregon’s medical marijuana industry are taking this seriously and offering to work closely with officials to end the illegal pot sales.

“They understand this threatens something they care about,” Holton told the Associated Press. “We are glad to have their help.”