Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz Wants “Pothead Candy” Pulled From Store Shelves

Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz is trying to harsh the mellow on a new pot-shaped candy he wants off South Florida store shelves in time for Halloween.

Diaz is asking local retailers that sell to minors to stop peddling the so-called "pothead candy," sour apple-flavored lollipops or ring pops shaped like marijuana leaves.

A resolution by Diaz asking stores to pull the pot pops off shelves was unanimously approved by commissioners at a meeting Tuesday.

Diaz says the candy, which comes in a package showing a cartoon character holding up a peace sign with a joint in his mouth and pot plants and the word "legalize" stamped across the front, is advertising and promoting drug use to young children.

"Although the product itself has no cannabis or illegal substances, the fact remains that ‘pothead candy’ sends the wrong message to children," Diaz said in a statement. "The manufacturer is glamorizing marijuana and is obviously targeting minors with the cartoon depictions on the packaging."

The candy, manufactured by Kalan LP of Lansdowne, Pa., has been on the market six to nine months and "does pretty well," according to company president Andrew Kalan. 

"We don't advocate for a political position. We just look at what the marketplace wants and respond to it," Kalan said last week. "It's just candy... It's sour apple flavor, it doesn't claim to be pot in disguise or anything like that."

Diaz said the candy should be sold only in adult novelty stores, and will send a copy of the resolution to the Florida Congressional Delegation, Miami-Dade County State Legislation Delegation, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Florida Retail Federation, and Kalan LP.