Parents warned about risks of cannabis-infused sweets and chocolates

Gardaí in Westmeath have recently become aware of a new trend happening where cannabis infused edibles such as jelly’s, sweets and chocolates are illegally being sold.

The main problem is that these sweets are being sold to young people who may think they are an easy way to get high. Unlike inhaled cannabis, ingested cannabis must be digested first before being absorbed. The fact that these sweets enter the digestive system is worrying as it takes time for them to react which means people may not feel the effects immediately and the person may consume more thinking they don’t work.

They are being sold for up to €20/€30 for a bag and the bags would look very like the branded sweets being sold in shops.

They are being brought into the country mainly from Canada and America, and they are posing difficult to detect as their smell is masked by the smell of the sweet themselves.

These items have potential to cause serious harm as they have been found to contain significant levels of cannabis components, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and have been subject of warnings from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). Because it contains THC it is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977/1984.

The cannabis sweets can trap young people into starting to take drugs, particularly cannabis, and can be very harmful if taken innocently by children.

If you believe that your child has consumed a sweet such as this, consult a medical professional immediately.

We would ask all parents to be aware of this current risk and to speak to your children of the dangers associated with these sweets. If anyone is offered any of the sweets for sale or to try, please contact your nearest Garda station.

Although the numbers of detections of these sweets in Westmeath are low at the moment, we are looking at a ‘prevention better than cure approach’ when it comes to our young people