Candymakers Seek New Tactics to Stop Marijuana Edible Copycats

In April 2020, a 5-year-old girl was hospitalized in Utah after eating candy her family got from a local food bank. What they thought was a Nerds Rope fruit chew was instead a sweet treat in nearly identical packaging—but one that happened to be infused with THC.

That incident became a high-profile example of why big brands like Hershey Co., Kellogg Co., and General Mills Inc. say it’s necessary to crack down on marijuana edibles whose packaging imitates their products—to protect children and, while they’re at it, their famous trademarks.

Such pot candy and snacks abound on the ...