Authorities seized a large amount of illegal cannabis food products in Los Angeles that were packaged to mimic Twinkies and other popular sweets.
The Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce recently seized over two million illegal cannabis products masquerading as candy packages in the Los Angeles Toy District, according to the governor’s office.
The products were packaged to replicate Twinkies, Sweet Tarts, and other sweets popular with children. The cannabis ingredient label is located on the bottom of the product. However, not only it is difficult to read at a glance, but it is also an unauthorized and counterfeit label.
Authorities raided 11 businesses that manufactured and sold the products in the Toy District and seized 2,279,000 contraband products, 31 boxes of illegally grown cannabis, and 32 boxes of illegal tobacco products.
“Illegal packaging is dangerous when especially it is ripping off well-known brands that are attractive to children and needs to be removed from the marketplace,” said Nicole Elliott, director of the Department of Cannabis Control.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said the task force is to protect the licensed, legal cannabis industry and crack down on human trafficking and labor exploitation in the illegal industry.
According to the governor’s office, the task force has seized $120 million worth of illegal cannabis products this year alone and $465 million since 2022.
BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]
