RICHLAND, Wash. – With Halloween just around the corner, families in Richland are preparing for a fun night of costumes and candy. However, memories of last year’s incident involving a child consuming 600 milligrams of edible cannabis candy are still fresh.
Richland Police Commander Damon Jansen recalled the incident, noting the packaging resembled “nerds gummies” but contained a small symbol indicating THC content. He emphasized that such occurrences are rare. “This is very uncommon. I’ve been in law enforcement for 25 years, and this is the first situation we’ve had where a child has ingested candy. That’s a medicated candy,” said Jansen.
The American Addiction Center states there is no record of a child being seriously harmed from trick-or-treating treats. Jansen reassured parents that this is not an epidemic and encouraged them to enjoy the holiday.
For added safety, Jansen suggested parents double-check their children’s Halloween candy. “Make sure that you look and see what your child is going to be eating. Take a look through those bags of candy that they get. Make sure that it doesn’t look like anything’s been tampered with,” he said. He also mentioned that unopened, store-bought candy is generally safe.
The bigger concern, according to Jansen, is ensuring children move safely between houses. “The main thing is we want people to be visible, right? If your kids are in dark costumes, make sure they’re carrying flashlights or the glow sticks or something that will make them visible,” said Jansen.
Commander Jansen urged parents to stay close and ensure children cross streets safely. With these precautions, families can have a safe and enjoyable Halloween.
