The town of Hugo’s approximately 720 residents have been warned not to drink, cook or bathe using the local water supply after authorities found evidence of THC.
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In an alert on its Facebook page the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office asked people to avoid drinking, cooking and bathing in Hugo Water.
No one has displayed symptoms, the Lincoln County sheriff’s office said, adding that federal authorities also were involved in the investigation.
The sheriff’s office said officials tested the water after getting complaints.
Hugo, a community of about 730 people, prohibits marijuana cultivation, product manufacturing, testing facilities, and Colorado’s retail marijuana stores.
THC, and the other psychoactive compounds in weed can be extracted with water (as they were in this video from our colleagues at Munchies) but it takes further preparation to turn that into something that gets you high.
It’s unlikely that consuming pot-tainted water would cause lasting health effects, said Mark Salley, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Health and Environment.
Lincoln County Public Health Director Susan Kelly says no illnesses have been linked to the suspected contamination.
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects.
Several experts told The Denver Post that the town’s fears don’t stand up to basic chemistry.
The town of Hugo is located about 20 miles southeast of Limon and around an hour and 40 minute drive from Denver.
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The sheriff’s office said fresh water is coming.
