California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a consumer alert warning residents about industrial hemp-infused edibles that often resemble popular food products and brands. These items may contain high levels of THC and are packaged similarly to well-known brands like Cheetos, Fruity Pebbles, and Sour Patch Kids. Bonta urges Californians to avoid these potentially hazardous products and report them if encountered.
"Industrial hemp-infused products designed to resemble popular brands appeal to our most vulnerable – children and teens – and pose serious adverse health risks that we must shield them from," said Attorney General Rob Bonta. "At the California Department of Justice, we continue to protect our youth from harm. I urge all Californians to examine the packaging carefully and report any product that seems suspicious."
Governor Gavin Newsom announced new emergency regulations on September 6th aimed at protecting Californians, especially young people, from the harmful effects of intoxicating hemp products. Effective September 23, 2024, these regulations mandate that industrial hemp food products intended for human consumption have no detectable THC per serving, cannot be sold to individuals under 21 years old, and may contain no more than five servings per package.
Hemp-infused edible products are often made to mimic major brands such as Oreos and Doritos. These items are primarily sold online, in gas stations, smoke shops, and liquor stores where they are accessible to children and teens. They frequently contain THC levels far exceeding legal limits.
The packaging for these illegal products appears nearly identical to those of major brands; however, no major candy or food companies manufacture or sell cannabis or CBD products. Consumers should look for copycat packaging with language indicating cannabis content — terms like "medicated," "THC," "CBD," "keep out of reach of children and animals," or an image of a cannabis leaf.
Intoxicating industrial hemp products pose significant public health risks. Children who ingest these edibles can experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing, lethargy, dizziness, nausea, and loss of coordination. Synthetic cannabinoids can cause rapid heart rate, agitation, vomiting, trouble breathing, psychosis among other side effects.
If accidental consumption occurs in you or your child monitor for symptoms of intoxication. California’s Poison Control System offers a 24-hour hotline at (800) 222-1222 with interpreter services available in over 200 languages.
The manufacture and sale of intoxicating hemp-infused edible products is illegal; stores selling them face prosecution risks. These items might also be distributed by unlicensed cannabis operators containing excessive THC levels beyond legal limits while being marketed towards youth contrary to the Medicinal & Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation & Safety Act.
Report any encounters with these illegal products through local law enforcement agencies or file complaints via www.oag.ca.gov/report as well as contacting the Department Of Cannabis Control at https://cannabis.ca.gov/resources/file-complaint/ or complaints@cannabis.ca.gov.
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