Cannabis Candies In Kiddie Packaging Seized In Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Raids this week at unpermitted cannabis operations in Santa Cruz County turned up cash and hundreds of pounds of cannabis items, including 1,000 units of cannabis candies individually wrapped in packaging that appeared to target children, county officials announced Friday.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office investigators served search warrants on three illegal operations in the area of Westbranch Road in Soquel and seized 990 cannabis plants, nearly 213 pounds of processed cannabis flower, 440 cannabis “vape” cartridges, more than $9,100 in cash, nearly a pound of cannabis concentrate, and the cannabis candies.

The candies included candy rope necklaces with cartoon designs and gummy bears labeled “Bearly Legal" with cartoon bears on the packaging. There were no "adequate" warning labels alerting parents or children to the candies' contents, county officials said. Such packaging does not comply with state regulations, although at press time it's unknown whether the products were being packaged on site or brought in from out of state.

Investigators also searched two other properties on Westbranch Road and seized 358 cannabis
plants.

Several citations were issued.