Many of these unregulated edibles mimic brands such as Cheetos, Sour Patch Kids or Oreos but may contain high levels of THC or synthetic cannabinoids that may not be safe for consumers, especially children.
“The fact is: here in California, we have a safe, regulated, and legal cannabis market,” Bonta continued.
Legal cannabis products in California are required to display a “universal symbol” consisting of the letters “CA” underneath a triangle that contains a cannabis leaf and an exclamation point.
Copycat packaging might feature language such as “medicated,” “THC,” or “CBD.” If consumed by children, cannabis products could cause delayed symptoms including dizziness, difficulty breathing and lethargy.
Bonta’s warning comes as ICU visits and poison control calls for cannabis ingestion among children have skyrocketed in recent years.
Previously, he covered education at the San Antonio Express-News, was a reporter and researcher at the Boston Globe and participated in the New York Times Student Journalism Institute.