Pubdate: Fri, 29 Jun 2001
Source: Tulsa World (OK)
Copyright: 2001 World Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.tulsaworld.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/463
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

RED POT ALERT ISSUED

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs has issued its annual 
warning against smoking red marijuana.

Bureau agents, along with the Oklahoma National Guard troops and several 
sheriff's departments' deputies, are eradicating wild-growing marijuana 
crops by treating it with weed killer.

They are using backpack spray rigs to coat the marijuana with Round Up, a 
weed killer made of glyphosate. In order to warn the public that the plants 
have been treated, red dye has been added to the chemical, which turns the 
plants red. More than 4 million plants have already been killed across the 
state, and more spraying is planned throughout the summer and fall.

"The herbicide has been tested, found to be environmentally safe and has a 
very low toxicity to wildlife," said Mark Woodward, an agency spokesman. 
"It is the exact same product most of us buy at the store to kill weeds in 
our own back yards."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager