With the countdown to Halloween ticking down to the last few seconds, it’s a great time to take a look at a relatively new fear parents have developed: what if somebody is going to give the kids THC-laced treats? 

This fear of poison candy goes back decades with edibles only becoming a new incarnation of the same old urban legend.

First of all, the fear of not wanting our children exposed to any illicit substance at a young age is not unwarranted. Nobody wants their child to be coming home drunk or high anytime, let alone after the wholesome tradition of trick-or-treating. 

It’s a scary thought, but why are we afraid that some stoner is going to be dropping cannabis-laced edibles in the bags of trick or treaters? Why isn’t there as widespread of a fear that some drunk uncle is going to drop a cute little
airplane-sized gin in those bags as well?

In part, I think it ties to the fact that alcohol has been legal since the very edge of our living memory, however, cannabis has only been permitted for just over a year. This fear is further substantiated by the fact that cannabis edibles were legalized in Canada just two weeks ago.

Although being afraid that kids could be easily confused is one thing — as edibles can come in friendly candy-like forms such as gummy bears — but no stoner is going to be dropping these gummy nuggets in their bags.

Nobody is going to accidentally mix up loose gummies and weed labelled bags with Halloween candy that they are going to give out. No edibles come in little red Kit Kat wrappers or in the shape of Smarties boxes. People who hand out loose gummy bears are a different type of crazy and are the origin of the cyanide candies and hidden razor blade surprises. But do these guys even exist?

Most of us buy our Halloween candy the same way — at the grocery store. Every major company sells boxes of branded mini candies that we all take home, eat too many before Halloween and then go back to the store for another. 

There is a massive difference between edible weed and the candy that goes to trick or treaters, so there won’t be any accidental mistakes. It’s hard to mix up a Hershey’s bar and loose drugs — it really is.

“Oh, but what if they’re super high on edibles and can’t tell the difference?”

Sure, buddy is going to be sitting on the couch half way to planet baked this All Hallows Eve, but if they are so baked that they can’t tell their own weed apart from the candies they are going to give to kids then they are almost certainly too stoned to answer the door. They are probably on their second run through of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of The Moon and can’t even hear the doorbell. 

Beyond this, no stoner is going to be giving your kids edibles for shits and giggles. Edibles are expensive as hell. Most people don’t even consider spending the extra dollar or so it costs to get a full-sized chocolate bar, let alone a $14 gummy. The worst thing to come from a stoner with edibles  on Halloween is buying full-sized chocolate bars so people would love them.

Too long; didn’t read? Edibles are hard to confuse and aren’t some demon that is going to take over Halloween and lay waste to our impressionable children. Parents still need to be diligent, but no more than they are at any other time of year.

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Cameron Dufort

Photo: Victoria Becker/ Photo Editor