Pot Packaged to Look Like Candy, Kids' Cereal, Chips: NY AG Warns

NEW YORK — The New York Attorney General is warning parents about a dangerous new trend that is causing children under five to be at risk of overdosing on THC.

New York AG Letitia James issued an alert to parents about a slew of new products that are deceptively designed to look like snack foods and candy, but actually contain high levels of cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The AG noted that the products are illegal and unregulated in New York, but her office is asking parents to be on guard for the sale of these "dangerous and misleading products" online.

Some of the "products" cited by the AG include satire brands like "Stoney Patch Kids" and "Stoneos Cookies." Other packaging is nearly identical to that of Cheetos, Doritos and even kids' cereals, including Fruity Pebbles.

“These unregulated and deceptive cannabis products will only confuse and harm New Yorkers, which is why they have no place in our state,” James said in a statement issued this week. “It is essential that we limit their access to protect our communities and, more specifically, our children. In light of an increase in accidental overdoses among children nationwide, it is more vital than ever that we do everything we can to curb this crisis and prevent any further harm, or even worse, death."

The New York Attorney General urges parents to remain vigilant and to not hesitate reporting any sightings of these harmful items to her office immediately.

The misleadingly labeled pot edibles contain a high concentration of THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis. If ingested by children, THC can lead to an accidental overdose, James warned.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the most common overdose incidents among children involve ingestion of edible cannabis foods and those sorts of overdoses are on the rise. In 2020, more than 70 percent of calls related to marijuana edibles to the Poison Control Center involved children under the age of 5. In the first half of 2021 alone, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reports that poison control hotlines have received an estimated 2,622 calls for services related to young children ingesting illegal cannabis products.

In June, a six-year-old girl suffered seizures and was hospitalized after eating brightly packaged "Hawaiian Punch"-flavored gummy candies she found in a houseguest's belongings during a pool party, according to a report from Nexstar Media's Michael Scheidt. The girl eventually recovered, but her mother is now warning other parents about this hidden danger.

According to the CDC, a THC overdose is unlikely to result in death, even in young children, but the ever more common experience is not something most parents would want for their kids.