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OFFICIALS in at least two states have warned parents to watch out for THC-infused edibles that could accidentally end up in their children’s Halloween candy now that marijuana is legal in multiple parts of the country.
The Alameda Police Department sent an emergency alert to local parents in California on Monday after one child fell ill at a Halloween event at their elementary school, according to the San Franciso Chronicle.
The child ingested cannabis-infused fruit chews that were among pieces of candy that the child received at a school party over the weekend, according to the announcement.
“The child became ill and sought immediate medical attention,” officials wrote.
The candy was wrapped in blue paper with the words “Kiva Lost Farm cannabis-infused fruit chews” written on it, appearing similar to Starburst candies, police said.
Three other families also reported finding the fruit chews after the Sunday event at Amelia Earhart Elementary.
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Officials are worried that the increased usage of marijuana following its legalization in multiple parts of the country could lead to further accidents with children.
“Many THC-infused candies can closely resemble popular name-brand sweets. This incident highlights a concern regarding the safety of our community during holiday celebrations such as Halloween,” the statement said.
Police in New York talked to children and parents about the same concern at a Halloween event in Farmingdale on Monday, as reported by CBS News.
Officers from the Nassau Police Department along with other first responders from Long Island dressed as popular superheroes and threw frisbees with the children outside at the celebration.
The organizers said they wanted to bring some joy to the kids, many of whom were still reeling from the devasting bus crash that killed two last month, and share some important safety information.
“There are some people out there that are real idiots and they think it’s funny to give somebody a cannabis edible without telling them, and it’s not funny. Those people can end up in the emergency room and it can be very dangerous,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman told CBS News.
And the repercussions can be more serious than most people think.
“We are talking about children that have been in a comatose state when they present. So we’re actually talking about grave consequences, not just vomiting,” Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Irena Gelman told CBS News.
To avoid any accidents with Halloween candy, the Alameda Police Department recommends that parents:
- Inspect their children’s candy before allowing them to eat it
- Educate their children on what to look out for
- Err on the side of caution if you have any doubts
- Report suspicious candy to authorities