Police Issue Warning On Marijuana Edibles In Halloween Candy

Police and the state health department are warning parents of a significant presence of marijuana candy and other edible forms in New Jersey and nearby states ahead of Halloween night.

“The presence of these edible forms of marijuana poses a great risk to users, especially to children, who may accidentally receive marijuana candy during Halloween,” police said in a statement. “Marijuana candy is illegal in New Jersey. It contains Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main active ingredient that causes a high. Marijuana candy often imitates hard or gummy candy or chocolate. THC levels in marijuana candy can be as high as 90 percent, compared to 10 percent to 20 percent found in marijuana vegetation.”

Adults are advised to check for unusual candy packaging, like homemade packages, such as plastic bags. It is hard to tell the difference between marijuana candy and regular candy based only on appearance, so parents should smell the candy, police advise.

In May 2017, a 10-year-old boy from Ramapo, New York was sent to the emergency room after ingesting a marijuana infused sour gummy candy, according to ABC 7. The boy experienced symptoms of nervousness and nausea.

Physical effects of marijuana use include dizziness, shallow breathing, red eyes and dilated pupils, dry mouth, increased appetite and slow reaction time. Other effects can be distorted sense of time, random thinking, paranoia, anxiety, depression and short-term forgetfulness.

Anyone who believes their child has received marijuana candy should immediately contact their local police department.

Parents should wear vinyl or non-latex gloves if handling possible marijuana candy. They should also thoroughly wash hands after removing and disposing of the gloves properly to prevent potential ingestion of any drug particles.

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