Perhaps the most offensive candy ever made..

Prevention experts are concerned about a new marijuana-flavored lollipop known as “chronic candy” that they say promotes drug use to youth and could be a gateway product for future drug use. Responding to growing sales of the product, local government leaders, policymakers and community officials in Atlanta, Georgia formed the Coalition Against Chronic Candy, which has helped persuade some retailers to remove the candy from store shelves.

While the candy contains no THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, community leaders say its suggestive marketing and packaging as candy, slogans like “every lick is like taking a hit” and celebrity endorsements can easily catch the attention of teens. The product is packaged with images of bright green marijuana leaves and on the website customers can purchase “chronic candy” gear and accessories.

“Chronic candy and any other marijuana-flavored products are a threat to our youth because they give the false impression that marijuana is fun and safe,” said George Crawford, Coordinator of the Coalition Against Chronic Candy (also known as “kronic kandy”). “Products such as chronic candy and other similar ones packaged as lollipops can fall into the hands of unsuspecting youth and can serve as a gateway product for future marijuana use.”

Atlanta is not the first city to take notice. New York City lawmakers recently condemned sales of the product for glamorizing drug use. The makers of Chronic Candy say 300 stores carry the product nationwide, including gas stations, convenient stores and smoke shops. The candy is also sold widely on the Internet.

National organizations, such as The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA), are also concerned about the message chronic candy could be sending to youth. “Anything that makes marijuana look like candy is bad for our children,” said Joseph A. Califano, Jr. Chairman and President of CASA.

In response to the negative publicity, Chronic Candy CEO Tony Montana responded in a statement that the candy is “100% legal,” noting that the company markets the candies to people over the age of 18 only. “Near-beer isn’t considered a threat to society or thought to be an inducement for kids to drink real beer. Chocolate cigarettes are in the market but those aren’t targeted.” he said.

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This entry was posted on Friday, May 27th, 2005 at 7:49 am and is filed under Candy News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.