Cannabis-laced products made to look like popular brands of sweets, drinks, cake and chocolate are being sold online, with campaigners warning they appear "designed to appeal to children."
An investigation by the Daily Record found dozens of social media pages in Scotland advertising cannabis-infused items that imitate well-known snack brands. These include gummies named Cannaburst, which mimic Starburst sweets, and ice cream cones filled with cannabis-laced Nutella spread.
Brand imitations flagged as dangerous
Campaigners said the use of branding similar to sweets and snacks was "especially dangerous for children and young people." One blue packet of gummies was branded as "Medicated Jolly Ranchers," using the same logo as the American sweet company.
Other adverts showed a peach lemonade drink, a hot sauce for "Peri-peri chicken" referencing a popular fast food among young people, and items including Oreo cheesecakes, luxury cupcakes and lollipops. One account advertised a "dopey dipping box" styled as a sweet treat platter with tea cakes, fruit and cookies for dipping into cannabis-blended dips.
Health risks of edible cannabis
FRANK, the anti-drug service, said edible cannabis carries specific dangers because there is a risk someone could be taking something more dangerous than cannabis. It said there had been cases of young people taking what they thought were cannabis edibles but which contained synthetic cannabinoids rather than THC, potentially causing hallucinations, extreme paranoia and death.
Campaigners call for action
Laura Mahon, CEO of Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, said: "These products are clearly designed to appeal to children, with the use of branding similar to well-known sweets and snacks.
"We want to see greater action to prevent these products from being advertised and sold online, particularly where content can be seen by young people."
Gareth Balmer, National Harm Reduction Lead at the With You Charity, added: "Some of these products are deliberately designed to look like sweets - especially dangerous for children and young people, who may have no idea what they're taking or how strong it is. We continue to call on social media platforms to strengthen safety measures and remove accounts selling unregulated substances."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "While the UK Government is responsible for the regulation of the internet, the Scottish Government shares the concerns of many parents about young people’s access to inappropriate material online.
"That is why we have been clear in our calls for greater controls to reduce online harms to children, and we will work constructively with the UK Government to that end."
