Pot-shaped candy: 'Addictive gateway treat'?

Pothead Lollipops are shaped like marijuana leaves. Should they be banned to protect kids from their pro-pot message?

Best Opinion:  Fox Business, Reason, Jezebel

City leaders in Buffalo, N.Y., are launching a war on candy — at least candy shaped like drugs. Pothead Lollipops and Ring Pots are sour-apple flavored sweets that contain no cannabis, but look like marijuana leaves. Anti-drug activists say the candy, packaged in a bag emblazoned with the word "legalize," sends kids the message that illegal drugs are okay. Two city council members are pushing to deny licenses to stores that sell the treats. Andrew Kalan, whose company makes the Ring Pots, responds: "It's just candy." Are the sweets harmless, or an "addictive gateway treat"?

Ban them. It is wrong to tell kids pot is harmless: These candies shouldn't even exist, says Dr. Paul Hokemeyer of Caron Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania, as quoted by Fox Business. "The teenage brain is a developing brain, and (smoking marijuana) is impacting how it develops." It's dangerous to use candy — with a cartoon character on the package flashing a peace sign, no less — to send kids the "message that it's okay to smoke, because it's not."
"Marijuana-shaped candy alarms parents, officials"

Censorship is the real danger: "Criticizing the candy is one thing," says Jacob Sullum at Reason, "but refusing to license retailers who plan to sell it crosses the line between debate and censorship." The city council members can speak out as much they want against the marijuana legalization message on the candy's wrapper. But in a country where everybody has the right to free speech, they ought to know that they can't just suppress any message they find offensive.
"Cannabis candy leaves sour taste in drug warriors' mouths"

So sell it... just not to kids: A ban might be overkill, says Margaret Hartmann at Jezebel, but it was stupid to put this product in the candy aisle of neighborhood convenience stores. This isn't a gateway item aiming to "introduce kids to the joys of weed" — it's "supposed to appeal to adult potheads." So put it "in the back of Spencer's next to the penis necklaces and boob-shaped cake pans" where it belongs, and everybody wins.
"Kids can now enjoy marijuana-shaped candy"

 

Obama's medical marijuana 'reversal': A 'blatant contradiction'?

The Justice Department has threatened to crack down on medical marijuana businesses, even those allowed under state laws — and advocates aren't pleased

Medical marijuana advocates were thrilled in 2009 when President Obama's Justice Department advised federal attorneys to avoid prosecuting patients who use medical marijuana in accordance with state laws, or their caregivers. Now, the thrill is gone. Deputy Attorney... More

California's 'marijuana grannies' and the 800 pot-plant bust

Police arrest two entrepreneurial senior citizens over a suspected marijuana-growing operation in their San Bruno, California home

The story: Police have busted two "marijuana grannies" (see their mugshots, below) for growing copious amounts of pot in a San Bruno, Calif., home. Late last week, the cops responded after neighbors reported two men breaking down the women's front door. Police... More

Marijuana isn't 'green?'

A new study claims that growing pot uses a whopping 1 percent of America's electricity, and pollutes the air with massive amounts of greenhouse gas

The jokes practically write themselves: A new study by a U.S. government energy analyst (working on his own time) found that marijuana cultivation is a huge power suck, and a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. How not-green is weed? The study... More

The 'Walmart of Weed': Coming to a town near you?

The ambitious pot farmers superstore weGrow opens its first franchise. Has medical marijuana gone mainstream?

The video: Oakland-based weGrow, a hydroponics store that bills itself as "the Walmart of Weed," opened its first franchise over the weekend, in Sacramento. And if business is good in California, weGrow plans to expand to other states flirting with the medical... More

Legalizing marijuana: The drive for 2012

California's Prop 19 went down to defeat. But pro-legalization activists are already gearing up for the next big battle

Marijuana legalization suffered a big defeat in California on Tuesday, but proponents of liberalizing cannabis laws aren't giving up. Richard Lee, the marijuana entrepreneur behind California's Prop 19, and a Colorado group called Legalize2012 are among those... More