Every October, the Real Monster Is Misinformation

Each October, headlines resurface warning of “THC candy in your kid’s bag.” Yet over forty years of research tells a different story. Sociologist Joel Best, who has studied so-called “Halloween sadism” since the 1980s, found zero verified U.S. cases of strangers intentionally poisoning children with candy. Every instance that made the news turned out to be a hoax, a prank, or a parent’s crime misreported as a stranger’s act.

The Origins of Panic

The myth predates legal cannabis by decades. In 1959, a California dentist handed out laxatives as a prank. In 1964, a Long Island woman gave out steel wool and ant poison—clearly labeled “poison”—as a statement against trick-or-treating. The 1974 Texas case of Ronald O’Bryan, who poisoned his own son with cyanide-laced Pixy Stix for insurance money, cemented the legend. None involved cannabis, yet all fueled the folklore of the “evil stranger.”

Weed’s Turn in the Crosshairs

When Colorado legalized cannabis in 2014, law enforcement launched “Can You Spot the Pot?” campaigns warning parents about edibles disguised as candy. The media amplified the story, and the old myth adapted—now the supposed threat was “THC candy” instead of razor blades. But again, not one verified case of a stranger dosing Halloween candy has ever been documented.

The Real Risk

Edible poisonings do happen—but almost always at home. Between 2017 and 2021, child emergency room visits for accidental cannabis ingestion rose 1,375%. The true danger isn’t trick-or-treating; it’s unsupervised access, such as a bag of gummies left within reach of toddlers. The focus belongs on storage and education, not hysteria.

Copycats and Crackdowns

Despite the lack of evidence, confusion persists. Imitation products using “Skittles” or “Nerds” branding have prompted lawsuits and Federal Trade Commission enforcement actions. In 2022, a single incident in Winnipeg—where edibles were mistaken for candy—made international headlines but remained an isolated case.

Myth Over Reality

The “candy curse” thrives because it fits a compelling narrative: innocent children, shadowy strangers, and cannabis as the villain. But reality is far less cinematic—no documented poisonings, just decades of moral panic and media repetition.

Moral of the Night

Fear the driveway more than the doormat. Check your candy if it brings peace of mind, but know the facts: the only thing haunting Halloween is bad journalism.

Halloweed remains a myth that never got you high.
Happy Halloween.

YOUTUBE VIDEO

— Nugg Notes

SOURCES:

• Best, Joel. “Halloween Sadism: The Evidence.” UDSpace, University of Delaware, 2008. https://udspace.udel.edu/bitstreams/d3b9d92c-aada-4d9b-9b1e-c11449460c33/download

• “Poisoned Candy Myths.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoned_candy_myths

• Davidson, Mark. “The Case of the Halloween Candy Killer: State of Texas v. Ronald Clark O’Bryan.” Harris County District Clerk (PDF), https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/Common/HistoricalDocument/pdf/COTM_Oct_2021.pdf

• “Denver Police Warn Trick-or-Treaters of Marijuana-Infused Candy.” Time, 29 Oct. 2014, https://time.com/3506126/denver-marijuana-candy-police-halloween/

• Tweet, Marit S., et al. “Pediatric Edible Cannabis Exposures and Acute Toxicity, 2017–2021.” Pediatrics, vol. 151, no. 2, 2023, e2022057761. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/151/2/e2022057761/190427/Pediatric-Edible-Cannabis-Exposures-and-Acute

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “FDA, FTC Warn Six Companies for Illegally Selling Copycat Food Products Containing Delta-8 THC.” 5 July 2023, https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-ftc-warn-six-companies-illegally-selling-copycat-food-products-containing-delta-8-thc