Police in Laval, Que., are warning residents that what appear to be fruit-flavoured gummy bears may not be as harmless as they look.
Laval police issued a statement Friday saying officers had discovered cannabinoid-laced candies during an arrest.
The brightly coloured jujubes were found to contain tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the chemical that causes marijuana's psychoactive effects.
Police discovered the candies while arresting two 19-year-old Laval residents who were found smoking marijuana, Laval Police Sgt. Frederic Jean said. When officers asked if the pair had any other drugs on them, they handed police a bag of about a dozen gummy candies. Jean said the candies came in five colours: two shades of red, two shades of green, and yellow.
Police sent the candies in to Health Canada for tests, which confirmed the candies were laced with THC.
In a phone interview with CTVNews.ca, Jean said it is the first time Laval police have seized drug-infused candies, and could be the first case in the province.
"We've seized tablets that could be mistaken for candies before," he said. "(But) this is completely different because the gummy bears have the consistency, the colour, and the smell of candy."
Because the candies were found in five different colours, police believe the bears were made in multiple batches, Jean said.
"We want to inform the public with young children so that they are aware of the existence of this form of drug to prevent accidental intoxication," Jean said.
Anybody with information is asked to call 450-662-4636 or call 9-1-1 and give the operator the file number lvl-150514-102.
With files from CTV Montreal
