State AGs urge Congress to clamp down on ‘copycat’ marijuana edibles

Did you miss the webinar “Women Leaders in Cannabis: Shattering the Grass Ceiling?” Head to MJBiz YouTube to watch it now!


Nearly two dozen state attorneys general from across the U.S. signed a letter to congressional leaders this week urging lawmakers to crack down on marijuana edibles brands that imitate popular mainstream candies.

It’s a practice that has been going on  for years in the legal marijuana industry.

The letter, signed by 23 attorneys general, was sent to the heads of both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

The AGs wrote that they’re “gravely concerned about the dangers of copycat tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) edibles in our communities, particularly the risk they pose to our children.”

“Congress should immediately enact legislation authorizing trademark holders of well-known and trusted consumer packaged goods to hold accountable those malicious actors who are using those marks to market illicit copycat THC edibles to children,” the letter notes while blaming “illicit operators” for the “growing problem.”

The learning curve for entering the cannabis industry is steep. Start with the fundamentals.

MJBiz Cannabis 101 Email Course

A 10-part email course designed to educate new hires and aspiring professionals on the key fundamental areas of the legal cannabis industry, including:

  • History of legal cannabis in America
  • Overview of plant-touching + ancillary business sectors
  • Cannabis finance and investing
  • Cannabis marketing and brand building
  • Employment + hiring opportunities
  • And much more!

Gain a comprehensive understanding of this complex industry with this free resource.

The letter cites several examples of imitation marijuana edibles that played on popular mainstream candies and snacks – Oreos cookies, Doritos chips and Nerds candy, for example – and noted that children in multiple states have been hospitalized after mistaking the THC-infused products for normal food.

Signatories included AGs from Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington state.