Are pandemic-related supply chain issues still a problem? Some companies want you to think soEndangered smalltooth sawfish deaths more than double since mid-March
Credit: WINK News. More trick-or-treaters will noticeably be out and about starting this weekend, leading up to Halloween. With the goblins and ghouls playing tricks and collecting candy, there are groups making an effort to ensure kids are safe during All Hallows’ Eve. And that includes making sure the candy kids get is not dangerous for them. Something becoming more common in candy products are candies infused with cannabidiol (CBD), something not regulated by the FDA currently. More than 500 people, including kids dressed up in their costumes, attended a trunk-or-treat event at Faith Lutheran Church in Lehigh Acres Friday. And it’s all about safety at events like these. “It’s a lot different from when I went trick-or-treating until now,” said Mitch Schneider, who went to the trunk-or-treat with his family. Schneider isn’t only worried about busy roads on Halloween but also about the candy his kids bring home. Pastor John Correa at Faith Lutheran Church takes safety very seriously, and he said organizers made sure everything being handed out at the trunk-or-treat was safe for trunk-or-treaters. “All our candy is collected here at church,” Correa said. “And it has to be sealed. And we have a team of people who go through each package.” Local law enforcement said reports of candy laced with things like THC are rare. But the increase in candy with CBD in it is becoming more common, not yet federally regulated. CBD is legal, but it’s age restricted, so law enforcement officers told us anyone found giving a minor candy with CBD or other age-restricted ingredients could face charges similar to giving alcohol to a minor. “What’s in the bottle could be anything,” said Matt Beno, the owner of Your CBD Store in Lee County. “You never really know.” Products sold at Your CBD Store are lab tested to make sure customers know what they are buying. Matt Beno said the danger comes from some companies that include harsh chemicals or high levels of THC in their edibles, which include candies mimicking what kids might get on Halloween. “Most importantly, it’s making sure that every child is safe,” Correa said.