Attorneys general in several countries have issued warnings about cannabis products reminiscent of standard snacks and candies, CBS News reported Thursday.
“These similar cannabis products are unregulated, dangerous and illegal,” Attorney General William Tong explained in a recent statement. “Unintentional cannabis overdoses by children are on the rise across the country and these products will only make it worse.”
While CT has legalized adult cannabis, many of these products do not fall within the scope of what will ever be safe or allowed for sale. If you notice these duplicates on sale, report them to my office and do your best to protect them away from children.https://t.co/rSOd7z7d2r pic.twitter.com/wKyVPDdE3K
– AG William Tong (@AGWilliamTong) October 26, 2021
Tong’s statement continued:
In the first nine months of 2020, 80 percent of calls related to edible marijuana products were made to the Child Exposure Poisoning Center. In the first half of 2021 alone, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported that calls to the Poison Control Phone Number received approximately 2,622 calls for services related to young children consuming cannabis products. The Connecticut Poisoning Center received 88 calls in 2020 regarding children’s exposure to edible marijuana and 58 calls in the first seven months of 2021.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, meanwhile, found that edible cannabis products were “misleadingly designed” to look like regular treats.
However, they may contain high levels of cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol, also called THC, which is the primary compound in marijuana.
In a post on social media on Tuesday, James shared a photograph of the products concerned.
The label on one bag read Stoney Patch and the other was called Double Stuf Stoneo:
Parents in New York City should look out for misleading cannabis products that look like standard snacks and candy, but contain dangerously high concentrations of THC.
Any New Yorker who comes across these products should contact my office immediately:
1-800-771-7755 pic.twitter.com/dU0Xd2RtNQ
– NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) October 26, 2021
The CBS report continued:
Connecticut, New York, and Illinois have legalized the recreational use of certain amounts of cannabis for adults. Under Connecticut law, cannabis products cannot be sold under a brand that is identical to or similar to an existing non-cannabis product. One serving for adults for edible cannabis products contains five milligrams of THC under state law, and a multi-meal package for edible cannabis should not contain more than 100 milligrams of total THC.
During a traffic stop, officers in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, found a stock of edible THC products packaged to resemble popular snacks and candies, Fox 29 reported in September.
“Everything that’s wrapped up tells parents it’s pretty safe, but it’s wrapped up, it looks like commercial packaging, but it’s certainly not safe,” Bensalem Police Department Public Safety Director Fred Harran said.