As trick-or-treat bags fill up this week, CannabisPharmacy.com is issuing an urgent warning about illicit candy look-alike edibles that can be mistaken for candy by children, calling accidental intoxication a clear and present danger this Halloween. In response, the company announced its formal “Pharmacy-Grade Packaging” policy, rejecting any product that mimics mainstream candy, and unveiled its printable “Be Label Smart” guide, featuring the "Super 6" safety checklist to help families prevent a trip to the emergency room.

“We’re asking parents to assume that anything that looks like candy might not be,” said Steve McCarthy, Chief Compliance Officer at CannabisPharmacy.com. “A few bites of a strong cannabis edible can be enough to trigger severe anxiety and panic in children, and terrified families end up rushing kids to emergency rooms, thinking it’s a heart or psych issue. Our message is blunt because it has to be: don’t let look-alike edibles into your home this Halloween.”

“While many in this industry chase kid-style branding, we’ve drawn a hard line,” McCarthy added. “Our Pharmacy-Grade Packaging policy rejects child-appealing products on sight. This 'Be Label Smart' checklist helps parents see who is doing the work and who is cutting corners. We partner with Independent Pharmacies because child safety and patient care, not hype, drive every decision we make.”

What Parents Need to Know: The "Be Label Smart" Super 6 Checklist

Accidental intoxication happens fast. Illicit edibles are deliberately designed to pass as popular candy. In a dark room or a crowded party bowl, a child cannot tell the difference. This "Super 6" checklist helps you spot safe, legitimate products.

1. No Candy Look-Alikes: Check the packaging. Does it imitate a known candy, cereal, or snack brand? Legit companies do not do this. A look-alike package is a major red flag for weak compliance.
2. Look for the Warning Symbol: Look for a clear, nationally recognized cannabis warning symbol, often a leaf in a triangle. Missing or improvised symbols are a red flag.
3. Insist on Child-Resistant (CR) Packaging: The package must be certified child-resistant, such as a CR zipper pouch or push-and-turn lid. Simple tear-top bags are not compliant.
4. Find Clear Ingredients & Dosing: The label must clearly state the exact milligrams (mg) per serving and per package, along with a full ingredient list. Vague claims with no milligrams are a red flag.
5. Confirm Batch # and Expiration Date: Always look for a traceable batch or lot number and a best-by or expiration date. This traceability ties your exact item to its lab results.
6. Scan the QR Code for a Full-Panel Test: The QR code must link to a real, third-party Certificate of Analysis (COA), not a marketing page. This COA must show full-panel testing for contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, and microbes, not just potency.

If you suspect a child has ingested an edible: Call Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222 and follow medical guidance. If symptoms escalate (e.g., extreme anxiety, uncontrollable vomiting, unresponsiveness), seek emergency care immediately.

The "Pharmacy-Grade Packaging" Policy: A Zero-Tolerance Standard

CannabisPharmacy.com’s policy is designed to enforce a clear line between adult medication and children's snacks.

• No Look-Alikes, Period: The company rejects any product with names, slogans, fonts, or artwork that mimic popular candies, snacks, or cereals, or otherwise appear to target minors.
• A Day-One Commitment: All 101 Cannabis Pharmacy SKUs were built from inception to meet medical-grade, pharmacy-first packaging standards, no cartoon mascots, no candy trade dress, and no confusion.
• Independent, Full-Panel Lab Testing: Every partner must provide third-party, full-panel testing results for potency, pesticides, heavy metals, microbials, mycotoxins, and residual solvents, a requirement the company has enforced since 2017.
• Strict Marketplace Enforcement: The company has refused partnerships with thousands of brands over impure products or misleading, child-appealing packaging.

The Risk is Real: Why "Halloweed" Isn't Cute

Ingesting cannabis edibles intended for adults can overwhelm a child’s system, leading to intense panic, confusion, and vomiting. The psychological panic alone can mimic a cardiac emergency. Furthermore, untested illicit products may contain dangerous, unlisted ingredients, including pesticides, heavy metals, or residual solvents. Prevention is the only solution: vigilant packaging checks, locked storage for all adult products, and strict “no mystery candy” rules.

MEDIA ASSETS & INTERVIEW AVAILABILITY

• On-Camera Spokesperson: Steve McCarthy, Chief Compliance Officer (available in-person at Charleston HQ or for remote broadcast).
• B-Roll/Stills: High-resolution footage and photos available, including:
  • Pharmacy-grade, child-resistant packaging lineup.
  • Demonstration of a QR code scan linking to a full-panel COA.
  • Side-by-side comparison of "real candy vs. safe pharmacy-grade" packaging.
• Parent Handout: The one-page “Be Label Smart” PDF, featuring the “Super 6” checklist, is available for on-air QR codes and station websites. This Parent Handout is linked here: https://cannabispharmacy.com/be-label-smart-by-cannabis-pharmacy/

A Call to Action for Parents and Industry

• Parents & Caregivers: Download the “Be Label Smart” guide and audit your home before trick-or-treating. Keep all adult products locked and completely out of sight.
• Retailers & Brands: Review the Pharmacy-Grade Packaging and full-panel batch-testing requirements before seeking placement.

About CannabisPharmacy.com

CannabisPharmacy.com is a premier online cannabis platform built on the pillars of Service, Support, and Selection. In partnership with a network of Independent Pharmacies, the company is dedicated to helping patients live happier, healthier lives by providing access to safe, vetted, and effective cannabis products. All products listed on CannabisPharmacy.com must adhere to the company's strict "Pharmacy-Grade Packaging" standards and undergo rigorous, independent, third-party full-panel batch testing. Learn more at www.CannabisPharmacy.com.

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