Authorities in California are alerting parents to make sure their kids are consuming candy this Halloween after learning that a youngster at a nearby trick-or-treating event over the weekend became sick after eating sweets that had been spiked with THC.
Parents were warned to “exercise extra caution and inspect your child’s Halloween candy” by the Alameda Police Department on Monday while they looked into an incident in which a child had to get medical attention right away after eating a cannabis candy.
The pot-infused candy is thought to have been distributed during a “Trunk or Treat” event that took place on Sunday at Alameda’s Amelia Earhart Elementary School, according to FOX2 KTVU.
The Alameda Unified School District’s senior manager for community affairs, Susan Davis, told the station that when the student’s parents examined the candy they had received from the event, they discovered a wrapper indicating it was loaded with cannabis.
“Cannabis-infused candy can look a lot like real candy, so it’s really important for parents to check the candy this year,” said Davis.
Parent Beth Meloy, who brought her kid along to the event, said to the station that the THC-infused candy resembled a “standalone Starburst.” Meloy said that her child had received the candy during the event and that it wasn’t until she received calls and emails from other parents and the school that she became aware of the packaging difference.
Police posted multiple images of name-brand candy next to cannabis items with similar packaging, claiming that many THC-infused candies might closely mimic well-known name-brand treats.
Aside from teaching their kids not to eat candies that aren’t in their original packaging or haven’t been checked by their parents, the department asked parents to take extra precautions this Halloween by having them check their child’s candy for unusual packaging or tampering, and calling the police if they find any candy that raises questions.
Parents should err on the side of caution and throw away the candies if there is any doubt as to the authenticity of the candy, according to police.
