Prosecutor Issues Warning On Marijuana Edibles In Halloween Candy

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Every Halloween, law enforcement officials urge parents to check their children's candy to make sure it's safe.

This year, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and state Health Department have taken that to a new level: instead of just being on the lookout for pins or needles stuck in candies or other signs of tampering, authorities are warning parents to be on the lookout for marijuana edibles mixed in with the goodies their children collect.

In a warning graphic posted to Facebook that was created by the state health department, officials warn there is an increased presence of marijuana edibles that look like everyday candy such as gummy candies or hard chocolate.

"Marijuana candy is illegal in New Jersey," the health department warning states. "It contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main ingredient which causes a high." THC levels can be as high as 90 percent, far higher than the 10 to 20 percent found in the plant, health officials said.

The warning comes in part because a 10-year-old boy in Ramapo, N.Y., suffered an accidental overdose in May after eating sour gummy candy infused with cannabis oil, authorities said. The child wound up in the emergency room with nausea and nervousness brought on by the THC, authorities said.

Look for unusual candy packaging such as candy in plastic bags, officials said. Sometimes marijuana candy looks so much like brand-name candy it's difficult to tell the difference, officials said, but marijuana candy can give off the odor of the marijana plant. Sometimes the candy is packaged in wrappers similar to familiar brand names so look closely.

The health department warning urges parents to call police if they find what they believe to be a marijuana edible or candy in their child's Halloween bag and urges parents to handle it with gloves and wash their hands and their child's hands after removing it as a precaution.

Image via Morguefile