Stillwater Police Department Release Results of Recent Underage Vape & Tobacco Compliance Checks

(STILLWATER, OK) – On Friday, April 26, 2024, the Stillwater Police Department’s (SPD) Special Projects Division conducted compliance checks at ten locations, aimed at ensuring age compliance related to the sale of vape and tobacco products.

This initiative was prompted by concerns following the overdose of a juvenile due to a THC vape pen, reportedly purchased from a business in Stillwater. During the compliance checks, SPD found that five businesses sold vape or tobacco products to underage individuals, resulting in five arrests.

SPD has observed an alarming trend of THC vape pen possession among juveniles within our local community and schools. These vape pens are sometimes nicotine based but often contain illegal Delta-9 THC or Delta-8 THC, a strain of THC that is not regulated in Oklahoma but illegal in many states due to its potency and associated risks of overdose among minors.

Parents are urged  to have open conversations with their children about the dangers associated with Delta-8 THC-infused vape products. Understanding the risks is crucial to preventing future incidents like these.

For more information on Delta-8 THC and its risks, parents and concerned individuals are encouraged to review the FDA’s resource “5 Things to Know about Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-8 THC)” available at: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/5-things-know-about-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol-delta-8-thc

SPD continues to work diligently to enforce laws that protect our youth and our community from the harmful effects of underage substance use.