Gummies made with cannabis were found in a candy stash at a Halloween event held at Amelia Earhart Elementary School in Alameda.
According to the school district officials, one student ate a fruit chew containing THC. The child needed medical attention but was not seriously ill.
The Alameda Unified School District officials said the fruit chews were included in a stash of candy the students collected at a PTA-sponsored “Trunk or Treat.”
“Three families found the fruit chews in their children’s candy,” AUSD spokesperson Susan Davis told the press.
The Alameda Police Department wrote, “We are currently investigating the report of a child ingesting THC-infused candy they received at a local Halloween trick-or-treating event. The child became ill and sought immediate medical attention.”
The candy stash also contained chocolate and other popular Halloween candy.
The cannabis fruit chews were made by Kiva Lost Farm and packaged in square blue wrappers. It appears similar to Starburst candies.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
School principal Bryan Dunn-Ruiz sent a letter to families urging parents to comb carefully through their child’s candy collection to ensure it did not contain cannabis.
“Please know that we are working quickly to determine the source of this candy and if other children received it. If you have any information on these fruit chews or if you also find cannabis candy in your student’s collection, please contact us immediately,” Dunn-Ruiz wrote.
Trunk or Treat events typically involve organizers decorating cars and passing out treats to children dressed up in costumes.
“This incident highlights a concern regarding the safety of our community during holiday celebrations such as Halloween,” the Alameda Police Department wrote. “Exercise extra caution and inspect your child’s Halloween candy.”
Many THC-infused candies look like other popular Halloween candies, police said. If you have any suspicions about a piece of candy, throw it out, police said.
The Alameda Police Department urges all parents and caregivers to take the following precautions:
- Check your child’s candy and look for candies that have unusual packaging, resemble well-known brands, and appear to be tampered with.
- Tell your child to be wary of eating candies that are unsealed and are not examined by a caregiver.
- If you have doubts, discard the candy.
- If you find a suspicious candy, contact the Alameda Police Department immediately.
