Grocery store owners allegedly sell pot for food stamps in Lane County
COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. - Owners of a downtown Cottage Grove market have been arrested for what police called a food-stamps-for-marijuana scheme.
Police on Thursday arrested Diane and David Clark, owners of "Diane's Market."
Investigators suspect the Clarks sold pot at their business and let some customers use food stamps to buy the weed. Police acted on multiple tips. Police delivered search warrants at the Clarks' home and business and to the home of 40-year-old Steve Casteel of Cottage Grove.
State spokesman Gene Evans at the Oregon Department of Human Resources in Salem told KVAL News that this is one case for the books. "When we found out about this yesterday, I think all of us shook our heads and said, 'Have you heard anything like this?'" Evans said. "I've never heard of anything like this; so yeah, I think it's unprecedented for us."
Evans said they don't know yet the value of the food stamps used as currency in deals that went "up in smoke." State officials said they are prepared to help police identify people who may have used their food stamp benefits to buy marijuana at the market.
