SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Marijuana snack food packaging is bright and uses bright, kid-friendly colors like blue, yellow and green. But the federal government doesn't like that colorful style.
In July 2023, the Federal Trade Commission targeted the makers of Stonos, which mimic Oreos, Doritos Nacho Cheese THC-infused chips that mimic Doritos, Stoner Patch Delta 8 gummies, and medicated Jolly Rancher gummies. A cease-and-desist letter was sent to a marijuana snack manufacturer. All of these products contain a type of THC called delta-8, which the FTC said in the letter “may pose a significant health risk to consumers.”
The FDA received “more than 125 adverse event reports” involving children and adults who ingested edible products containing THC.
Child addiction medical experts critical of the legal cannabis industry say these counterfeit products are designed to appeal to young people, including gummies, cookies, peanut butter cups, and even colorful sodas to keep them refreshed. It states that it also includes products.
“It confuses the mind, and when you start normalizing that product and promoting it as safe, it confuses our minds,” said Natalie Laub, a nationally renowned pediatrician at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. The Doctor told Team 10. It's the ability to act 'danger, danger, danger' because it looks like something we know is not dangerous. ”
Related: 'I thought I lost her': Doctors warn of dangers of edible marijuana to children
Parents like Adriana Chin, whose son Samuel is battling psychosis from heavy marijuana use, are pushing back on the idea of legalizing marijuana and making it more appealing with products like high-dose, fruit-flavored e-cigarettes. He says that a street corner dealer selling what he grew in the area transformed into the cannabis store it is today. A sophisticated industry worth billions of dollars, according to state records.
“They make it look like it's fun and something they have to do,” Chin said.
Samuel's addiction began with high doses of fruit-flavored e-cigarette oil. According to medical experts interviewed by Team 10, concentrated THC is many times more potent than marijuana in the '70s, and the product is now readily available at most dispensaries.
“I think my son was participating in an experiment that we weren't a part of,” Chin said.
Dr. Laub and Dr. Ronito Leff, prominent emergency physicians at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, are planning a 2023 California trial aimed at weeding out bright colors, fruit flavors and snack food scammers from legal marijuana. Cooperated with the Child Marijuana Safety Bill.
They say the legal marijuana industry is following the example of tobacco in the '70s, when Joe Camel sold cigarettes.
“What did tobacco companies do? They started putting cartoons on their packaging. “The cannabis industry does the same thing, right?” Dr. Laub said. “They started putting animals and balloons and shapes. “We're doing bright, colorful marketing with things like that, and kids will think, 'Wow, that's really cool.'”
The bill would also change labels to warn of the harmful effects of marijuana, especially on children.
Dr. Lev emphasized the differences in their missions.
“They want more marijuana use, but we just want data and science on the packaging. Warnings like 'uncontrollable vomiting, psychosis, depression, suicide, drug interactions.' I hope it’s written,” Lev says.
Related: The Dangers of Marijuana: How Potent Cannabis and Oils Damage Teen Brains
Their proposed bill passed both chambers of the California Legislature, but Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed it. The governor said in a statement that the bill is “too broad.”
His office did not respond to repeated requests for comment about his veto power. But the state's cannibal control agency responded.
Superintendent Nicole Elliott claims the bill “will be far-reaching.” [away] Commonplace designs fail to protect children in the way intended and may possibly unintentionally harm certain operators. ”
It's a difficult situation for the state.
The businesses she mentioned are part of an industry that sends large sums of money to California coffers, with state records showing $1 billion in taxes due in 2023. .
And although the state says it already has regulations in place that prohibit the use of bright colors to get teens and children high, Team 10 last month sold everything from gummies to cookies at a dispensary in northern San Diego County. Some products, even soda, were obtained legally.
Elliot says it has something to do with her.
“As a mother of two children under the age of four, that really concerns me,” she says.
Elliott said the state expects new legislation in 2024 to address marijuana's potential and marketing and advertising that targets children, while ensuring products similar to candy and snacks don't tempt young people. It is said that they are doing so.
“This is a very timely topic,” she says.
This is of greatest concern to parents who grew up believing that marijuana was harmless, only to see it transformed into a product that looks little different from the cannabis of yesterday.
One parent of a young man who is currently addicted to marijuana and suffering from mental illness said he was fooled into complacency because he was unaware of the strength of today's fruit-flavored marijuana vapes. Medical experts say powerful THC oil can cause brain damage and even lead to suicide.
“If it's growing out of the ground in your house, that's fine. But these processed, highly potent strains and oils have nothing to do with natural products,” says Parent. .
Today's cannabis is plentiful, potent, and visually appealing, but according to medical experts, it's more dangerous than ever.
The FTC has not disclosed the responses of the six companies it sent cease-and-desist letters to, but government officials said all Team 10 complied with “orders.” Only one marijuana snack maker complied with Team 10, and she said she did, but her store only sold to adults and no matter what the product looked like, it left the store. He complained that the rest was the responsibility of parents and adults. This is to keep it away from children.
