Sticky situation: Wayland teen found with pot laced taffy

WAYLAND, Mass. -- Police are warning parents about a candy on the market with a hidden danger. The candy is apparently made with a chemical found in marijuana and a teen in Wayland was cited by police for possession of the marijuana laced taffy.

The candies are called “Cheeba Chews” and on the company’s website they are described as "marijuana infused chocolate taffy." The candies are marketed toward medical marijuana patients.

The taffy is sold in California and Colorado, where it is legal to purchase the candy according to authorities. But in Wayland, police are putting the word out to warn parents of the candy after they confiscated a handful of them from a 17-year-old boy.

“For us it’s one of those things, now we have to look for candy and for the parents you’re looking for Tootsie Rolls basically, that smell like marijuana,” said Officer Shane Bowles of the Wayland Police Department.

The candy packaging comes in various colors depending on the dosage the customer is looking for. On the company’s website it describes how much marijuana each “dose” equals.

Police said there are many ways the candy could make its way to Massachusetts.

“They’re getting driven here, they’re getting mailed from friend to friend so it’s definitely not through the company, it’s definitely the outsourcing of the kids,” said Officer Bowles.

Parents said they were upset children were getting their hands on Cheeba Chews.

“Well if it’s for medicinal purposes why do you have to package it like candy. Obviously they are attempting to attract a younger crowd and circumvent the rules,” said Fred Freund, a concerned citizen.

“It almost seems like it’s marketed towards children and that makes me change my whole sort of opinion on the topic,” said Stacia Boyajian, another concerned citizen.

Police said the teenager who had the Cheeba Chews got them from someone who lives in Colorado. They said he did not face any criminal charges because he had less than one ounce of marijuana on him. He will have to pay a $100 fine.

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