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Officials in at least four states issued warnings to parents to check their child's Halloween candy for cannabis-infused edibles. (Photo by Josh Lawton/Digital First Media/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images) MediaNews Group via Getty Images Ahead of the Halloween holiday this year, officials in multiple states issued warnings to parents to check trick-or-treater candy for cannabis-laced candy. But some experts aren’t convinced the problem is as widespread as some warnings have claimed. Parents should check their child’s candy for cannabis, Action 7 News in New Mexico reports, citing medical professionals in the area. Doctors associated with the University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences caution that THC-infused candy is much too powerful for a small child. "I would definitely make sure you're trick-or-treating in a neighborhood that you feel is safe," pediatrician Dr. Chelsea Sanchez said. “Your own neighborhood is probably one of the better ones if you know your neighbors are participating or supervising events like trunk-or-treats or carnivals.” Parents who consume cannabis are advised to store cannabis-infused edibles in a locked box or somewhere else out of reach of children, not just on Halloween but all year round. THC potency has also entered the discussion: In Shasta County, California, officials also issued a new warning Tuesday, ABC News 7 reports."THC levels are so high, that a gummy, half a gummy may be what an adult would take, and a child is going to shove many gummies in their mouth so they really need to make sure if they have these products, they keep them as far away from our young people as they can," said Shasta County Chemical People Executive Director Betty Cunningham. Shasta County Chemical People is a nonprofit launched by concerned parents in 1983, springing from the “Just Say No” parent movement. The Warren, Michigan Police Department also issued a warning about an Oct. 27 seizure of around 20 packages of edibles infused with THC and psilocybin that resemble normal candy. NBC News picked up the story, warning about candy that resembles Jolly Ranchers and Doritos. But look-alike candy infused with cannabis or psilocybin comes from the black market. MORE FOR YOU Children shouldn’t have access to cannabis in any form, but some experts say reports of cannabis-laced candy during Halloween are typically overblown. Debunking Halloween Cannabis Candy Warnings and Myths The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), based in Washington, D.C., was formed in 1970 and consistently debunks reports that they say are exaggerated. These reports tend to spike before Halloween each year. “No one is knowingly giving out edibles to children as Halloween candy,” NORML reported. “First, doing so would be grossly irresponsible. NORML’s longstanding ‘Principles of Responsible Cannabis Use’ specify that cannabis is for “adults only” and that consumers “do not violate the rights of others.” Second, it would be cost-prohibitive. Regulated cannabis products cost exponentially more than traditional candy. Third, doing so exposes would-be pranksters to serious criminal penalties, as distributing cannabis to minors is a felony offense in almost all circumstances. Fourth, legal state-regulated cannabis products are subject to strict packaging laws that make them readily distinguishable from traditional candy, as well as from irresponsibly packaged unregulated products. For these reasons, there are few, if any, reports of this happening in the real world, only in the minds of ratings-crazed newsrooms and fear-mongering prohibitionists.” These warnings have persisted for decades, and separating fact from fiction is difficult. THC is much too powerful for the small bodies of children, and would typically be a parent’s worst nightmare. The slow-acting nature of edibles poses a risk that involves careful titration. But it may be rare for cases involving the intentional distribution of an expensive infused product during Halloween, with such serious crimes at stake. Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
