Cannabis Edibles

Drug gangs are disguising dangerous drugs as sweets

Cannabis edibles (or edibles) are food products which contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is the mood-altering ingredient from cannabis. Cannabis is a Class B controlled drug and it is illegal.

But edibles don't have the same look or smell as cannabis. They look and smell like normal shop-bought items. Sometimes called 'gummies' or 'bites', they are available in many different forms including, cakes, sweets, chocolates and drinks. They can be stronger than other cannabis products and contain other dangerous or illegal substances too.

Worryingly, we are seeing edibles being offered to, and consumed by, young people, including children. Their packaging makes them more appealing to young people with the products seeming 'fun'. But the dangers are real. Side effects can include:

• psychotic episodes,
• disorientation and confusion,
• changes in perception,
• depression,
• paranoia,
• heart problems,
• panic attacks,
• nausea or vomiting,
• hallucinations,
• memory loss,
• feeling lethargic,
• loss of consciousness,
• breathing difficulties,
• insomnia 
• anxiety. 

When it comes to cannabis edibles, it can take up-to two hours for the drug to take effect. This can lead to young people consuming dangerous amounts because they don't think the initial dose was enough.

And there are real risks around accidental ingestion too. Because edibles look like regular snacks, children or pets could accidentally consume them.

Regular use of cannabis can have a long-term impact too, particularly when used from a young age. This can include effects on:

• brain development
• heart health
• memory
• cognition health
• psychiatric health

County line drug gangs

We know gangs are using edibles as a ‘hook’ to coerce pre-teenage children into the County lines model. County lines is the name given to drug dealing where organised criminal groups (OCGs) use phone lines to move and supply drugs, usually from cities into smaller towns and rural areas.

The buying and selling of cannabis edibles is illegal in the UK. But we know they are advertised through social media, targeting young people. Gangs use normal postage routes to distribute the drugs, particularly as they don't smell of cannabis. This means they can go undetected.

Gangs exploit vulnerable people, including children and those with mental health or addiction issues, by recruiting them to distribute the drugs. This is often referred to as ‘drug running’.

The gangs target children under the age of criminal responsibility (10 years old). A gang will indoctrinate the child into their gang through getting them involved in distributing edibles. They'll then progress them to distributing drugs like heroin and cocaine. Sadly, knife crime and serious violence is often linked to the sale and supply of illegal drugs. This puts the young person in real danger of being seriously hurt, or even killed.

What are we doing in Essex

We know that all this is likely to cause concern in our communities, especially for parents and caregivers. But in Essex we're working hard to catch these drug dealers and stop them causing harm to our communities.

We have ensured schools have been briefed on the issue and we would encourage parents to also speak with them if there are any specific concerns.

Our dedicated Prepare, Prevent and Protect team work to stop young people becoming involved in drug supply and the associated violence.

Find out more about our specialist teams who dismantle and disrupt drug gangs operating in Essex on our tackling serious violence page.

How you can help

By working together we can help protect the children and young people in our communities. If you see something that doesn't feel right, or spot suspicious behaviour, please report it to us. 

You can report non-emergency crime through our website or by calling 101.