Marijuana Cookie Arrest
By Laurie Ciprianol.cipriano@krdo.com
COLORADO SPRINGS – A Colorado Springs couple allegedly attempted to sell marijuana cookies to a local convenience store clerk. Instead of making a sale, Jessie and Alisha Vriese, were arrested. “They were not licensed caregivers or growers of the product,” said Sgt. Dan Lofgren, with the Colorado Springs Police Department. “They were both arrested for a felony charge of offenses related to marijuana distribution.”
“Colorado Springs’ police department was made aware of a husband and wife team handing out business cards and samples of what they called Cannabutter cookies,” said Sgt. Lofgren. “They had contacted a local convenience store clerk and handed her a business card and a sample.”
The clerk notified police, who then began an investigation. Officers searched their apartment, where they say the couple was baking and packaging the snacks. “They had a baking production set up in their apartment,” said Sgt. Lofgren. “Hard to say what they were thinking. I think a lot of times recently, with the publicity of marijuana and some of the law changes that people are just getting innovative and starting to think that maybe they can do whatever they want now with marijuana.”
“I think maybe they ate too many of their own cookies,” said licensed caregiver Kenny Brock. “I couldn’t imagine why you would go to a local convenience store to try to sell something like that.”
Brock owns Old World Pharmaceuticals, a local medical marijuana dispensary. His pot-infused cookies, brownies, popcorn and candy have become very popular with customers.
“There are a lot patients that actually can’t smoke, and are unwilling to,” said Brock. “Some of them have had throat cancer and just cannot do that, so they need an alternative.” That alternative is food.
“They can eat a brownie and relieve their pain and have a pleasant treat,” said Brock. “This is definitely a market that I think most dispensaries are in now. It’s a very important one for those patients who really can’t smoke it and need the pain relief. It’s a very good alternative for them. They get great results.”
Brock told NEWSCHANNEL 13 that “Canabutter” is often used in the production of these types of snacks and is produced by rendering THC into butter or oil. “THC, one of the active cannabinoids in marijuana needs to render in a fat or an oil so you can ingest it. So it actually has an effect.”
Brock expects the demand for marijuana treats to continue to grow at medical marijuana dispensaries. However, they will not be appearing on convenience store shelves any time soon.
