When I was a kid (many decades ago) parents and police were always worried about adulterated treats on Hallowe’en. They still are, but in a more low-key way. However, there’s a new worry this year, bringing doctored treats back into a spotlight, of sorts: cannabis-infused candies…
A selection of illegal cannabis-infused gummy treats confiscated by
York Region Police from a Toronto area convenience store.
It’s Hallowe’en, and it appears the kids will be out this year, whereas they stayed in last year due to the COVID lockdown. The little monsters will be even hungrier for chips, candy and other goodies due to last year’s shut-out.
I well remember the drill on Hallowe’en when I was a kid. Bring Canadian, there was always the question of the weather. Will I have to wear my snowsuit under my costume this year? Thanks to global warming we haven’t had to deal with that one in recent years. But there was always the worry about razor blades, sewing pins and needles in the apples, and lye in candies. Now, authorities in some jurisdictions are openly worried about cannabis extracts showing up in Hallowe’en sweets.
It’s a problem that’s been growing here in Canada since recreational weed became legal. Back before COVID-19, when I posted an initial look at the phenomenon outside the context of Hallowe’en.
The Irish concern
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued a warning that some misguided folks there will hand out cannabis-infused gummy treats to unsuspecting kids tonight. It might sound like a trick and a treat in one to some, but a little deeper thinking makes it clear that such a stunt is downright dangerous.
The problem the Irish authorities are particularly concerned about is cannabis jellies packaged to closely resemble popular non-infused candy brands. In The UK and North America, these camouflaged cannabis hits are commonly referred to as ‘dummies’ instead of ‘gummies’.
FSAI chief executive Dr. Pamela Byrne said, “We know adults and/or teenagers are ordering these illegal products from online or other illegal sources for their own personal use. However, they often have no understanding of the real health dangers of these products and are careless or reckless in putting young children’s health at risk by allowing them access to these products.”
The magnitude of the problem
Back in 2019, when doctors in Canada expressed concern over kids getting their hands on cannabis-dosed gummies, hard candies and chocolate confections, I reported:
“Some 582 people under the age of 20 visited an emergency department in either Ontario or Alberta due to cannabis poisoning in 2017-18, according to reportable numbers from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), an increase of 50 percent over the year prior, and twice the number reported in 2013-2014.”
The problem, they said then and reaffirm now, is that one cannabis gummy is a dose. But kids are used to scarfing candies – especially easy-to-chew-down gummies – a handful at a time. Then come the inevitable overdoses.
The FSAI asserts, “Cannabis toxicity can cause cognitive and motor impairment and in children this can be extreme, lasting up to 24 to 36 hours after consumption.”
My take
I agree with the FSAI and Canadian authorities that the spectre of cannabis overdosing of kids hangs heavily over this year’s rekindled Trick-or-Treating event. Parents will undoubtedly apply due diligence to inspecting their kids’ treats before letting the little spooks consume any.
But I’m more interested in how the police and medical officials will handle overdose cases involving children. Will they make a concerted effort to trace the dangerous treats? Will the perpetrators, if caught, be charged? And, if so, charged with what? There are criminal statutes dealing with the illegal administration of drugs. These have been used to charge idiots who gave girls date rape drugs. But do they apply to the idiots who hand out technically legal cannabis treats to unsuspecting kids?
I think they should be nailed to the wall, as a matter of principle, based on the ugly motivations behind such nasty stunts. But will they ever learn, no matter how hard they get slapped down for their malpractices?
I truly believe that the kind of people who tamper with Hallowe’en treats are anti-social, bitter outsiders who feel they’ve gotten a bum deal in life. If they can’t be happy, others shouldn’t be allowed to be happy, either. The only real way to fix the problem would be to make the outsiders feel ‘included’. And I don’t know how to make that happen. Any ideas?
Muse on that…
~ Maggie J.