US FTC claims ‘Stoneos’ cannabis cookies resemble Oreos too closely.

Snack Companies Sent Cease and Desist Letters for Cannabis-Infused Products Resembling Kids’ Favorites

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against six companies that produce cannabis-infused snacks with packaging that closely resembles popular children’s foods. The companies, including “Dabisco” with their “Double Stuf Stoneo” cookies and “Jolly Rancher Gummies Sours,” have received cease and desist letters from the FTC and the Food and Drug Administration. The concern is that children may mistake these products for familiar snacks like Oreo cookies, Doritos tortilla chips, Cheetos cheese-flavored snacks, and Nerds candies.

The packaging of these cannabis-infused snacks prominently displays the presence of THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana, in a lower corner. The FDA has received over 125 reports of adverse effects related to THC consumption between January 2021 and May 2022, with ten of them specifically mentioning copycat edible products resembling popular foods.

The cease and desist letters demand that the companies immediately stop marketing these Delta-8 THC products that imitate conventional foods in a way that appeals to young children.

Frito-Lay, the maker of Doritos, has expressed support for the agencies’ actions in curbing the sale of these deceptive products. They are also advocating for legislation that would criminalize the sale of THC edibles using packaging that infringes on famous snack brands.

The FTC and FDA have sent the letters to Delta Munchies LLC, Exclusive Hemp Farms, North Carolina Hemp Exchange LLC (maker of Stoneos), Dr. Smoke LLC, Nikte’s Wholesale LLC (maker of “Medicated Jolly Rancher Gummies Sour”), and The Haunted Vapor Room. While “Dr. Smoke” denies making the questioned products and claims to have removed them from stores, the other five companies have not responded to requests for comment.

(Reporting by Diane BartzEditing by Bill Berkrot)

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