Pot Inspired Candy?

We've all seen marijuana edibles in the shape of candy—be it fudge, chocolates, or a lollipop—but have we ever seen candy in the shape of marijuana? Well, we can now.

Grocery stores around the country have recently begun selling a product called Pot Pops. These lollipops are in the shape of a marijuana leaf, but they have not been dosed with any marijuana extracts, and they will not get you high. In fact, they come in sour apple flavor.

The shape of the candy is not a mistake, as is obvious by the chosen name of the sweet treat. The wrapper also proudly states that this is a “Pot Shaped Candy” and even goes so far as to stamp the label with a clear message: “Legalize.”

There is mixed support for this product among the medical marijuana community. Many believe that this is a strong message to the general public about their fear and ignorance of such a soft drug. Perhaps being faced with the idea of marijuana while going shopping will help people adjust to it's wide-spread distribution.

Others, however, worry about what message this product is sending to children. Children are, typically, the biggest market for candy and sweets, so is this product targeting them at a young age? While most believe that consenting adults should be able to safely medicate themselves as they feel necessary, you are unlikely to find many that believe kids should be hooked at a young age simply for profits.

So what is the real intent behind these Pot Pops? And let's not forget other, similar products, such as “Pothead Ring Pots” or “Pothead Lollipops,” that have appeared on retail shelves. The company president, Andrew Kalan, is a huge supporter of marijuana legalization who maintains that this is the primary motivation behind the candy.

Hopefully he will not see his plan backfire. It is possible that, among other things, this move will remind the public of attempts by tobacco corporations to sell to kids, and that would not be a good thing for the community.