Lit_Match

House bill would outlaw the sale of marijuana-flavored candy to minors
02.03.07|ASSOCIATED PRESS|By Greg Bluestein

Georgia lawmakers are trying to weed out businesses that sell candy flavored like marijuana to minors.

A measure introduced Friday would ban retailers from selling lollipops, gumdrops or other candy flavored to taste like the drug.

The legislation is aimed at businesses that sell products with drug-inspired names such as "Kronic Kandy" and "Pot Suckers," said state Rep. Judy Manning, R-Marietta.

"I think it's ridiculous," she said. "Why would you give somebody something to eat that's illegal?"

Marketers have called the treats a harmless novelty and many advise retailers to sell the candy only to adults. They say the candies are flavored with hemp essential oil, which gives them the oily, grassy taste of marijuana.

The legislation, however, says the candies promote drug use and give children the "false impression that marijuana is safe and fun." It would ban the sale of "marijuana flavored products" to minors and calls for a fine of up to $1,000 for each offense.

A broader effort was introduced in 2006 by state Sen. Vincent Fort, a Democrat from Atlanta who said he was outraged by the products. His measure would have banned all sales of the candy and punished violators with up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for the second offense.

The measure never reached a vote in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Manning, a Republican who is vice chair of the House Children and Youth Committee, said her proposal may gain more momentum. "I hope this one will have a better chance," she said.

It could face a challenge from Vote Hemp, a national organization that promotes the use of hemp products. Tom Murphy, the group's national outreach coordinator, said the effort was "understandable" but added he was concerned about its reach.

"We want to make sure that legal hemp foods are not tarnished by this ban," he said.