Officials Warn: Counterfeit THC Halloween Candy

Officials nationwide are warning parents to inspect Halloween candy after investigators found counterfeit treats packaged to resemble name-brand snacks that contained illicit or mislabeled THC and, in some cases, psilocybin. Authorities in Michigan and elsewhere found drug-laced counterfeit candy in authentic-looking wrappers, and Arkansas officials say they seized thousands of illegal hemp-derived THC products from gas stations this year; lab testing often shows doses and ingredients do not match packaging. Public-health experts and poison control centers report thousands of pediatric edible-cannabis exposure calls amid a patchwork of state marijuana rules that has allowed unsafe, poorly regulated products to circulate. Parents are urged to discard unwrapped or suspicious items, lock up legitimate edibles, avoid sharing candy at school, check packaging for THC indicators such as “Delta‑8/9,” look for signs of tampering, and report unusual finds to police. Clinicians also caution that ordinary Halloween sweets can pose medical risks—artificial sweeteners can dangerously interact with MAOI antidepressants and caffeine in chocolate can affect people taking ADHD, anti-anxiety, or blood‑pressure medications—so families should inspect both packaging and ingredients.