Pubdate: Fri, 24 Feb 2006
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Vito Pilieci
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

NEW AT THE CANDY STORE: DOPE-FLAVOURED SWEETS

'Chronic Candy' Trivializes Drug Use, Experts Worry

New marijuana-flavoured suckers, gum drops and chocolates are causing
huge controversy across the U.S., sparking Chicago and Suffolk County,
New York, to ban the products.

The sweets, made by a company called Chronic Candy in Corona,
California, are now shipping across the border into Canada thanks to
the company's Canadian website and mail-order purchase division.

The website for the company's Canadian operations states that the
candy has already been sold in Canada at last July's World Electronic
Music Festival in Wasaga Beach, just north of Toronto.

The company uses essential hemp oils to give the marijuana flavour to
its products. But the company making the candy says the products do
not contain any tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance
found in marijuana.

The candy has been featured on TV talk shows such as Late Night With
Conan O'Brien, where rapper Snoop Dog promoted the product, saying
"what do you do when you're on chronic? You want sweet things, you
want munchies. So we pacify you by giving you Chronic Candy."

Other stars, including Paris Hilton and Mini-Me, Verne Troyer, of
Austin Powers fame, have been vocal in their support.

The candy, which has the slogan "every lick is like taking a hit" and
"relax it's just candy," comes in a variety of marijuana-themed
flavours, including Purple Erkle, Blue Haze, Rasta, Chronic and Hydro.

The candies sell for about $1 U.S. each for the suckers, $5 U.S. for a
bag of the gum drops (called Sticky Icky Buds) and a sack of chocolate
for about $2 U.S.

The company's website, www.chroniccandy.com, plays up its celebrity
advocates while pumping out rapper 50 Cent's hit song, Welcome to the
Candy Shop.

At least one Canadian expert believes the product may be helping to
trivialize substance abuse.

Rosemary Munro, an alcohol and drug counsellor with Toronto's
Addiction Intervention Services, said numerous studies indicate
marijuana is a gateway drug to harder drugs such as cocaine.

She said parents need to speak to their children and educate them
about the new candy, and about the drug culture in general, before it
has the chance to become the next cool fad.

"As if there isn't enough stuff out there already," said Ms. Munro.
"With adolescents, the drug of choice is still marijuana."

The candies have a grassy, oily taste and "therefore have the flavour
and taste of some hemp-related products that you may or may not be
familiar with," according to the candy's website.

Some of the stores selling the product require purchasers to be over
18 to buy it.

The candy is already sold all over the U.S. More than 43 stores in New
York City alone carry the product.

The candies have become so popular, and have sparked such a
controversy, that the state of Georgia is proposing Bill 551, which
would see any hemp-flavoured candies made illegal for sale anywhere in
the state. Other states are considering similar legislation, including
New Jersey and Michigan. 
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MAP posted-by: Tom