Marijuana Must Be Less Appealing To Children

With the legalization of marijuana in the state of Washington, drug abuse prevention advocates are calling on state officials to tighten regulations to make marijuana treats less appealing to children, according to Reuters.

Starting next year, marijuana cookies, candy and beverages containing THC will be sold throughout the state. 

“The rules for labeling should be broadened to prohibit images and messages that are designed to attract young people,” said retired University of Washington social work professor Roger Roffman. He and other advocates wrote a letter to state marijuana regulators, asking them to add rules banning wrappers of recreational marijuana products from bearing “a reasonable resemblance to packaging of any commercially branded candy that is not a marijuana-infused product.”

Washington and Colorado, where marijuana is legal, have planned restrictions on marijuana advertising. Marijuana ads cannot appear within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds and other places designated for children. Marijuana products are required to have health warnings and come in child-resistant packaging. Naturally, marijuana ads cannot depict toys, cartoon characters.