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Marijuana-Shaped Candy Causing Controversy

PITTSBURGH,None — A candy that looks like a marijuana leaf has parents and drug advocacy groups upset. We sent Target 11 Consumer Investigator Robin Taylor out in Pittsburgh to find out where it’s being sold here. She found the lollipops, hard candies and gummy candies at adult novelty store Spencer’s.

Parents we spoke to said selling the candy anywhere is a bad idea, "Anywhere where a kid would be shopping, absolutely not," said parent Heather Samuel. We looked in candy stores and called the major candy distributors in Pittsburgh, but none sold the pot candy.

D.J. Dubois said the candy is wrong on different levels, "I think it's sending two wrong messages. First of all, it’s sending candy which I wouldn't technically give a child. And second of all it’s sending candy which is an illegal substance so I think its poor judgment."

All of the candy packages have the word "legalize" stamped on them.

Andrew Kalan, president of distributor Kalan LP, says the push to legalize marijuana prompted him to start selling the candy.

Kalan said the candy has been on the market for six to nine months and is sold in a thousand stores across the country. He added that it's just candy and not pot in disguise, but for some the message doesn't matter.

"I don't like this. I don't think this a good idea," added Marsico.

Drug control advocates claim the product could encourage people to use real drugs. The company claims the candy is selling well, and it's only received a single complaint.