COLUMBUS – Since scientific literature shows the use of marijuana to be a major risk factor in the development of addiction and drug use among school children, law enforcement officials are concerned over a new marketing ploy.
“They package this stuff just like it is something a kid can buy off the shelf,” said Columbus Police chief Clare May. “When I look at it, I see candy bar, something I would want to buy if I were a child.”
May was referring to a bag of evidence containing four “candy bars” recently confiscated from a driver during routine checkpoint stop by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Highway 11, between the village of Columbus and the port of entry. The driver, Jose Antonio Avila, of North Hollywood, California, told the officials he needed the “candy” for medicinal purposes. Avila was cited for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.
“This stuff is marijuana mixed with chocolate and packaged in the same colors and logo as Kit-Kat or Reese’s peanut butter cups are only it reads ‘Kief-Kat’ and ‘Reefers,'” May said. “There is a warning on a couple of the candy bars that it is for medicinal use only but the warnings are so small and vague that a child wouldn’t read them. “I can see there this is a problem where an illegal business takes advantage of a legal business under the ruse that this is medical marijuana. “I do not agree with the way this stuff is packaged and sold because it is attractive to children,” he said. Under New Mexico law, marijuana is an illegal drug. And even if it was for medicinal purposes, as Avila claimed, he had no prescription on him at the time he was stopped by the authorities. Because the citation is for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, Columbus Municipal Court will process the case.