LittleDabbie
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DENVER - An online campaign by Denver Police urging parents to check their children's Halloween candy for marijuana is drumming up controversy online.
The Halloween Trick'd or Treat Campaign features pictures of candy on the Denver Police Facebook page and asks parents to identify the marijuana edible. The post says, "Denver parents have an interesting predicament this year, in the fact that recreational marijuana is legal. We advise that you should thoroughly check your children's candy, and not just for homemade, opened, or suspicious items, but also for any marijuana edibles that look eerily close to mainstream candies kids eat every day."
The posts have drawn hundreds of comments from Facebook users; some praised their efforts in raising awareness and others blasting Denver Police for raising fears.
One user wrote: "Great fear mongering piece of propaganda."
Another commented: "Isn't this getting a bit ridiculous?"
"We're not trying to create fear, we're trying to create awareness. Sometimes it can be construed that way but being aware of what can happen so it doesn't happen, that's the goal," Denver Police public information officer, Sonny Jackson said.
According to the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, one child was exposed to marijuana on Halloween in 2012 and one child marijuana exposure was reported on Halloween of 2013. Recreational pot wasn't legalized in Colorado until January of 2014.
Dr. Christopher Colwell, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Denver Health said he's seen more kids exposed to pot since recreational weed was legalized but he hasn't seen children intentionally drugged.
"We really haven't seen too many of those that have enticed really young kids. [We are seeing kids] getting into parents, family members and caregivers edibles," Dr. Colwell told 7NEWS.
Dr. Colwell said parents should always check their children's candy and use the Halloween occasion to educate them.
"What greater opportunity now that we as the first state to legalize in the country, be able to talk to our kids about what things to be aware of," he said.
Bottom line, whether Potapocalypse fears are justified or just silly, a little common sense this Halloween will go a long way.
The Halloween Trick'd or Treat Campaign features pictures of candy on the Denver Police Facebook page and asks parents to identify the marijuana edible. The post says, "Denver parents have an interesting predicament this year, in the fact that recreational marijuana is legal. We advise that you should thoroughly check your children's candy, and not just for homemade, opened, or suspicious items, but also for any marijuana edibles that look eerily close to mainstream candies kids eat every day."
The posts have drawn hundreds of comments from Facebook users; some praised their efforts in raising awareness and others blasting Denver Police for raising fears.
One user wrote: "Great fear mongering piece of propaganda."
Another commented: "Isn't this getting a bit ridiculous?"
"We're not trying to create fear, we're trying to create awareness. Sometimes it can be construed that way but being aware of what can happen so it doesn't happen, that's the goal," Denver Police public information officer, Sonny Jackson said.
According to the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, one child was exposed to marijuana on Halloween in 2012 and one child marijuana exposure was reported on Halloween of 2013. Recreational pot wasn't legalized in Colorado until January of 2014.
Dr. Christopher Colwell, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Denver Health said he's seen more kids exposed to pot since recreational weed was legalized but he hasn't seen children intentionally drugged.
"We really haven't seen too many of those that have enticed really young kids. [We are seeing kids] getting into parents, family members and caregivers edibles," Dr. Colwell told 7NEWS.
Dr. Colwell said parents should always check their children's candy and use the Halloween occasion to educate them.
"What greater opportunity now that we as the first state to legalize in the country, be able to talk to our kids about what things to be aware of," he said.
Bottom line, whether Potapocalypse fears are justified or just silly, a little common sense this Halloween will go a long way.
