OKLAHOMA CITY (CBS) -- Oklahoma officials announced a plan to use nitrogen gas to execute inmates once the state resumes using the death penalty, marking the first time a U.S. state would use the gas to carry out capital punishment. State Attorney General Mike Hunter and Corrections Director Joe Allbaugh made the announcement Wednesday.
Oklahoma and other states haven't been able to get the drugs required for lethal injections amid opposition from drugmakers to having their products used in executions.
Hunter and Allbaugh announced that the state will move forward with executions by method of "inert gas inhalation," reports CBS affiliate KWTV.
Gov. Mary Fallin in 2015 signed a measure adding gas to the state's execution method, reports Tulsa World. If approved, gas inhalation would reportedly be the state's primary execution method.
Hunter said using nitrogen is the best way for Oklahoma to resume executions.
