QUESTION:
Are crooks in the DMV passing out marijuana-laced candy to kids on Halloween?
ANSWER:
Absolutely not, but all police departments are requesting parents to check their children's bags when they come home as a precaution.
SOURCES:
Crystal Nosal- Alexandria Police Department
Ashley Savage- Arlington County Police Department
Julie Parker- Fairfax County Police Department
Jonathan Perok- Prince William County Police
Robert Snyder- Maryland State Police
Rachel Reid- Metropolitan Police Department
Sherry Llewellyn- Howard County Police Department
Sharon Lauchaire- New Jersey Office of the Attorney General
New Jersey Police Department
PROCESS:
Headlines circulating Halloween night warn of chewy candies and chocolate bars laced with THC possibly being passed around to trick or treaters.
Many of the stories quote a tweet from the New Jersey Attorney General that says, "There is a significant presence of marijuana candy and other edible forms in New Jersey and nearby states."
Parents: Check #Halloween candy for #marijuana infused candy. pic.twitter.com/i2RpF3Ovo9
— NJ Attorney General (@NewJerseyAG) October 24, 2017
People responded saying it's a bogus "scare tactic" intended to cause "hysteria."
WUSA9's Verify researchers spoke with the New Jersey Attorney General's Office, which noted two articles. In one, a 10-year-old New York boy ate a marijuana candy he found in his dad's car. In the other, a New Jersey man is accused of giving a 13-year-old some weed candy back in August.
We asked, but we were not given any examples of cases connected to Halloween.
Our researchers spoke with Lieutenant Theodore Schafer of the New Jersey State Police. Schafer said spiking candy with weed is not unheard of and it "has been done," but he couldn't provide cases of adults doping kids on Halloween.
"It's an awareness more than anything else," Schafer said.
Police in the DMV say there are no known cases here. But that doesn't mean officials aren't warning parents to stay alert and check candy bags before kids dive in.
"Children should never eat candy until they get home and the candy is inspected. Also, children should never eat candy if the package is partially open or tampered with," Maryland State Police Spokesman Robert Snyder said. "Parents and children should also be aware of where they are going trick or treating and who they are getting candy from."
#HappyHalloween! Remember, you'll see trick or treaters tonight starting at dusk but also this afternoon in school zones. Drive slowly! pic.twitter.com/HPqT2ZhND9
— ArlingtonCountyPD (@ArlingtonVaPD) October 31, 2017
Keep your Goblins and Ghouls safe this Halloween with these trick-or-treating safety tips 🎃 pic.twitter.com/eWFoKC8eoQ
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) October 28, 2017
Halloween safety for all ages. https://t.co/QhI8MayjiO pic.twitter.com/8Jp2uBY1Pl
— Fairfax Co. Police (@fairfaxpolice) October 30, 2017
