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THC taints Colorado town’s water supply; residents warned not to use it

Posted at 6:42 PM, Jul 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-21 18:47:18-04

HUGO, Colo. — The water supply in a Colorado town is tainted with THC, officials warned Thursday afternoon.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is warning Hugo residents not to drink the water, or cook with it or shower in it, according to KDVR.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects. It acts much like the cannabinoid chemicals made naturally by the body, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

The sheriff’s office said fresh water is coming.

“Health Officials Law Enforcement Officers, and Emergency Managers are all involved in this situation. Bottled water on the way,” the sheriff’s office tweeted Thursday afternoon.

The sheriff’s office said officials tested the water after getting complaints. They didn’t have any information on the concentration of THC in the water as of 6:40 p.m.

“No symptoms to anyone,” the sheriff’s office tweeted.

About 720 people live in Hugo, according to census data.

While a serious situation for Hugo residents, it didn’t stop people from poking fun on Twitter:

This is a developing story.