US police testing drugs on Occupy protesters: Report

A number of protesters say they got high as a result of smoking marijuana provided by police officers, who then observed their behavior after they smoked the drug, the Guardian reported.

Following the claims, public safety officials in the US state of Minnesota have launched a criminal investigation.

The cases were brought to attention by independent journalists in Minnesota who began recording police officers picking up and returning protesters to a park they had been camping out at.

One protester has even said police officers treated him to a meal after giving him marijuana.

Meanwhile, a state trooper has been placed on leave over the allegations.

The program has reportedly been suspended.

Minnesota is among 48 states which participate in a so-called Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE) program. The program supposedly aims at helping officers point out impairment and drivers under the influence.