AN ELDERLY AMERICAN couple’s Christmas plans went up in smoke after they were caught by police with a giant stash of marijuana — which they said they planned to give as gifts.

Patrick Jiron, 80, and his wife Barbara, 70, went on a cross-country road trip from California to Vermont to visit friends and family — and brought 60 pounds (27kg) of marijuana with them, according to the York News-Times.

They told police in Nebraska — where they were detained about midway through their trip — that the approximately $336,000 worth (about €283,000) of marijuana was going to be used for Christmas presents, the newspaper said.

Police allegedly pulled the couple over on Tuesday for traffic violations, and smelled a pungent odour emanating from their pickup truck.

Arrested and charged

Patrick Jiron was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and having no drug tax stamp, according to the newspaper, which said he had been released after posting 10% of his $100,000 (about €84,000) bond.

Barbara Jiron was cited, but was not jailed due to unspecified medical conditions, the newspaper reported.

Marijuana is illegal in Nebraska, even though a handful of states, including California and Nebraska’s neighbour Colorado, have legalised the drug for recreational use.

Vermont is among 29 states that have legalised marijuana for medical use.

- © AFP 2017

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