Gardai have again urged parents to be aware of cannabis sweets which are sweeping the market and are packaged to look almost identical to known brands of popular jellies.
The "highly dangerous" confectionary contain a level of THC which could cause harm.
Officers say they are now worried about chocolate laced with cannabis to add to the jelly sweets that had been previously unearthed.
The brightly illuminous packets look just like they are aimed for kids but usually consist of a 500mg dose of THC.
Last year 13 teenage girls in London were hospitalised after taking the candy drugs and suffered nausea, hyperactivity, elevated heart rates and hallucinations.
In a number of counties, the sweets have been seized in packets almost identical to well-known sweets leading to fears that a young child would easily be tempted to unwittingly take one.
All packs bear the CA (cannabis logo) and the THC content of up to 600mg.
The sweets are in colourful packs and include names like Trrlli in various flavours such as sour infused octopus, strawberry puffs and peachie as well as Wowheads Sour Jelly Beans, Caribo Happy Cola, Baribo Goldbears and even the popular chews Skittles.
A statement from Gardai said: "Gardaí in Westmeath have recently become aware of a new trend happening where cannabis infused edibles such as jelly’s, sweets and chocolates are illegally being sold. The main problem is that these sweets are being sold to young people who may think they are an easy way to get high. The fact that these sweets enter the digestive system is worrying as it takes time for them to react which means people may not feel the effects immediately and the person may consume more thinking they don’t work.
"These items have potential to cause serious harm as they have been found to contain significant levels of cannabis components, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and have been subject of warnings from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). Because it contains THC it is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977/1984 and the person having them is committing an offence.
"The cannabis jellies can trap young people into starting to take drugs, particularly cannabis, and can be very harmful if taken innocently by children. Some of the brands being sold are extremely like the genuine sweets on sale nationwide.
"If you believe that your child has consumed a sweet such as this, consult a medical professional immediately. "
