A medical marijuana dispensary in Pocola, Oklahoma, was shut down by police after a raid revealed the business was allegedly selling products to individuals without patient cards, following a yearlong investigation with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Pocola police.
“As of right now, there’s not been any arrests. I do expect some soon,” said Pocola Police Chief Wayne Barnett.
Lorenzo Alonzo, a medical marijuana customer, was surprised at the shutdown.
“It’s definitely surprising. You know, I come here for my medicine, and now I’m going to have to find somewhere else,” he said.
Despite a sign indicating a grand opening, Alonzo told 40/29 News that he has been purchasing medical marijuana from the dispensary for about three years.
“I got my Oklahoma and Arkansas card, and this is the best dispensary by far, and I never seen anything shady. They’re always professional, always empathetic, always nice. Always ask me for my card whenever I came,” he said.
Chief Barnett explained that the Pocola police department had received complaints several years ago about the dispensary selling to people without cards. On Wednesday morning, police, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics agents, and district drug task force members raided the dispensary on Highway 112, located on the border with Arkansas. They seized all products from the store, which is now closed, and Barnett said the dispensary’s business licenses are being revoked.
“We’ve made some controlled buys out of the business,” Barnett said. “There was a lot of people that was coming in and out of the business, buying marijuana and THC products that didn’t have marijuana cards.”
In Arkansas, the state limits the number of medical marijuana dispensaries, but not in Oklahoma. However, both states require medical marijuana patient cards for purchases. “If they don’t have it, it is illegal for them to purchase it and it’s also illegal for the store to sell it to them,” Barnett said.
Employees at the dispensary declined to comment on the situation. Police stated that the district attorney will determine if criminal charges should be filed and if any arrests should be made.
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