Mass. police concerned about reports of fentanyl-laced marijuana in other states

WALPOLE, Mass. — It’s a rumored drug trend that potentially poses a deadly threat to marijuana users.

New fears of marijuana laced with the synthetic opiate fentanyl has police departments across the state keeping their eyes and ears open.

Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael told Boston 25 News he’s seen no proof that connects any recent overdoses in the state to fentanyl-laced marijuana, but his department is on the lookout for any hint of tainted pot.

“We’ve seen cocaine laced with fentanyl, heroin many times laced with fentanyl,” he said. “This can kill people.”

Carmichael leads one of the ten police departments Boston 25 News reached out to about the issue. All of them said they have no knowledge of fentanyl-laced pot in the state, but it’s a major concern.

“It’s out on the illicit market, you don’t know what you’re getting,” Carmichael said of the marijuana purchased by non-medical users. “We could have more a public health or safety crisis than we do right now.”

The possibility of fentanyl being introduced to a larger, more mainstream, group of people is the subject of urgent bulletins being shared amongst police departments throughout Massachusetts.

“It’s a trend we have to be concerned with people should know about it,” he said.

Cox Media Group