The cannabis edibles were packaged to look like the popular Nerds candy. They were discovered in children’s bags after trick-or-treating in the tuxedo neighborhood. The packages state that they contain 600 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main psychoactive property of marijuana. Canada’s maximum THC strength for edibles is 10 milligrams. The edibles were found inside zip-lock sandwich bags along with full-size chocolate bars, police said. The reports came from a small area in south Tuxedo, Const. Dani McKinnon said. THC can be dangerous to children, but no children were injured, McKinnon said. “The primary concern is that a cannabis product is being distributed to children on Halloween night,” he said.
“Horrible”: parent
Jocelyn Cordeiro told CBC News she was shocked when her nine-year-old daughter found one of the packages in her treats Monday night. “He took it and looked at it and then he said, ‘Sixty minute turn-on time — what does that mean?’ Cordeiro said Tuesday. “It wouldn’t have caught my attention if he hadn’t read it.” Cordeiro quickly texted the parents of other children they went with to trick them. All of them agreed to contact police about the THC candies, he said. She also posted her findings on social media to warn other parents. I thought it was an urban legend. My kid got edibles in the candy bag tonight. Look at your children’s sweets!!!!! pic.twitter.com/vfaeGBKhSR —@live_to_run As she dropped her daughter off at school Tuesday morning, Cordeiro discovered that several children in the area had also received the candy. “It was upsetting. I felt it wasn’t real at first,” he said, calling the incident “terrifying.” She plans to check her kids’ Halloween bags a lot more carefully next year. Police did not comment on a possible motive. They’re not sure what charges could be filed in the case, but said a drug test will be conducted.
“Not for sale in Canada”
Finn Makela, a law professor at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, said Canada’s cannabis law requires access to the drug either through a licensed reseller or a license to grow it at home. “Once you have a cannabis product that wasn’t purchased or grown by one of those two methods, then you’re in possession of illegal cannabis, which is an offense in and of itself,” he told Radio-Canada on Tuesday. The packaging elements found on the treat bags did not follow the requirements of the Cannabis Act, he said. The candy’s packaging and label do not follow the rules set by the Cannabis Act, says Finn Makela, a law professor at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec. (Jérémie Bergeron/Radio-Canada) It does not include the red hemp logo or a warning about the effects of THC as required by Health Canada. Also missing is bilingual text and information about the amount of cannabidiol (CBD) or the amount of THC/CBD in each serving. “That makes me believe so [the edibles were] not legally sold in Canada.” Plain packaging and labeling are also required for all cannabis products sold in Canada, according to Health Canada website. Fluorescent-colored packages, like the package Cordeiro’s daughter found, cannot be sold in stores. Several offenses under the Criminal Code may have been violated if the candy was intentionally distributed to children on Halloween night, Makela said. If the person in charge unknowingly handed out the candy, then it could constitute criminal negligence, he said. If it turns out there is no THC in the candies, then the person responsible could be charged with disorderly conduct. Makela says if the cannabis candies were deliberately handed out to children on Halloween night, whoever was responsible committed multiple offenses under the Criminal Code. (Jérémie Bergeron/Radio-Canada) Anyone with information is asked to contact the Winnipeg Police Major Crimes Unit at 204-986-6219. People should try not to handle the packaging if they discover these candies, police said. They should call the police and then put the package in a safe place until the police come to pick it up.
