Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issues public safety announcement over addictive drug found in retail stores

STODDARD COUNTY, Mo. (KBSI) – The Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has issued a public safety announcement urging residents to know the dangers of a new drug product called Octane.

FOX 23 sat down with Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Sawyer Smith, who shared details on the dangerous product. 

“It’s really important and I feel that responsibility as Prosecuting Attorney to give a public safety announcement and alert the public to the danger, that exist with using this controlled substance” says Prosecuting Attorney Smith.

The liquid synthetic cannabinoid product called Octane is illegal in the state of Missouri, as it’s classified as a schedule 1 controlled substance, Smith shares some of the dangers of Octane.

“People might use it to enhance the effect of other drugs. Some people may use it to vape with. On the label itself it says ‘keep away from your pets and children’. I don’t think it’s good for any person to use it. I’ve been told that it sort of creates, an effect, as if you used meth and heroin at the same time” says Smith.

According to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Sawyer Smith citizens have gained access to this product simply through retail stores selling the product.  

 “So, I do have some information that it is being sold by local retailers” says Smith. “I have recently put out a public safety announcement and noted in it a cease-and-desist statement that, it is an illegal product because it has a schedule one controlled substance and so it is illegal for them to sell this product. It is illegal for people to possess this product.” 

Smith warns retailers in the Stoddard County area, due to the dangerous nature of the product that if caught selling octane they would be prosecuted to the fullest.

“It’s very addictive” says Smith. “It’s my understanding its extremely dangerous. I don’t know the scientific boundaries of the substance. However, I think it’s generally safe to say it’s bad and it’s illegal and that was my reasoning for trying to alert the public. The potential danger with the substance.” 

Officials have voiced concerns over the un-regulation of cannabinoid products sold in Missouri, saying it leaves an open door for the sale of unregulated and illegal substances.

Missouri’s Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has been very vocal on her focus on consumer safety, recently opening multiple investigations into retailers selling unregulated products. 

Although Hanaway puts focus on consumer safety and transparency and Smith puts focus on prosecution, they have expressed they both have one goal, the safety of Missourians at both a state and county level.

 “I take a very proactive prosecution approach” says Smith. “I want to deter crime. I want to prevent crime, and I think a good way of doing that is letting people know what to expect. We deal with addiction and things in a lot of ways but when it comes to something this dangerous, similar to fentanyl, we’re going to approach it very strictly and prosecute it to the fullest extent, because we have to set that example and set that boundary with the hopes of causing people not to have it in their possession or give it to other people and really ultimately save lives.”