New Zealand / Waikato

Cannabis oil infused lollies, chocolates and baked goods seized by police

16:53 pm on 10 June 2020

Police have seized lollies, chocolates and baked goods infused with cannabis oil from a Hamilton address after investigating production and distribution of edible cannabis products.

The cannabis infused products seized by police included muffins, baked goods and jelly lollies. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police

Police said the investigation dubbed Operation Casper identified that products were being marketed and sold online via Instagram and Facebook, as well as through a website using the alias 'Dolly's Edibles'.

A search warrant executed at a Hamilton property on Friday last week discovered the production of a large quantity of cannabis-infused butter and a significant quantity of cannabis-infused products including gummy and jelly lollies, moulded chocolates, muffins, cookies and brownies, Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley said in a statement.

Using social media platforms to sell cannabis-infused products and giving them the appearance of normal baked goods or confectionery allowed children and young people to easily purchase them, Pitkethley said.

He said it was important for people to recognise the forms that these products could take and how they were distributed to lessen the risk of children consuming them.

"While education is a priority for us, we also remind people that cannabis oil is a Class B controlled illicit drug and it is an offence to purchase or attempt to purchase these products," Pitkethley said.

A 27-year-old woman appeared in Hamilton District court yesterday charged with drug offences relating to the production, supply and distribution of these products.

She was remanded to reappear on 24 June.