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ICUP is one of a handful of companies nationwide that makes and markets marijuana-flavored candy, much to the chagrin of State Assemblyman Francis Bodine.
Bodine (R-Burlington) introduced legislation Monday that would ban the sale of marijuana-flavored products in New Jersey and "condemn" the companies that make or sell them.
"We have enough problems without worrying about drug-flavored candy," Bodine said yesterday. "This is something that’s just flaunting and exposing children to a drug. It’s totally unacceptable and I want to stop it cold in its tracks."
ICUP President Steven Trachtenberg agreed the state is mired in problems -- and said Bodine should focus on them and let his company do business.
"It’s perfectly legal," said Trachtenberg, 30, who has operated ICUP in Trenton since 2002. "It’s not marketed toward kids. I feel we’re doing nothing wrong."
ICUP distributes thousands of marijuana-related items to novelty shops and stores around the country, but none could be considered drug paraphernalia, Trachtenberg said.
Among the products are ice cube trays with pot-leaf molds, a marijuana-flavored chocolate bar called the "Buzz Bar" that has yet to be distributed, and various keychains, shot glasses, and T-shirts.
Bodine’s argument that the candy encourages children to try drugs is ridiculous, Trachtenberg said.
"It’s a lollipop. It’s not going to have you start snorting cocaine or shooting heroin," he said.
But Pot Suckers are a hot item, and sell out quickly at Spencer Gifts in Quakerbridge Mall in West Windsor, an employee there said.
"They sell well. We’re all out right now," said Jaime Fletcher. "We only get one box, but last week somebody came in and bought the whole box."
The lollipops sell for $1.99 each.
"It’s our highest profile item, but it’s definitely not our most profitable," Trachtenberg said.
Trachtenberg also said his merchandise can be bought online at stonerware.com and that he targets 18- to 24-year-olds almost exclusively.
"Everything we sell can be sold in a mall. That’s our litmus test. If you can’t find it at Spencer’s or (novelty store) Hot Topic, you probably won’t find it here," he said.
Bodine railed against the fact that ICUP’s marijuana-related products can be found in shopping malls.
"I think that it’s foolhardy of us to think sales linked to marijuana would have anything but a negative effect," Bodine said.
Angelo Valente, the executive director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, agreed.
"Anything that would encourage young people to experiment with drugs is a bad thing for the residents of the state of New Jersey, especially young people," Valente said.
Trachtenberg retorted that his company is no different from restaurants that offer non-alcoholic mixed drinks for minors or the Jelly Belly Candy Co., which sells strawberry daiquiri and pina colada jelly beans.
"Is that creating an environment for kids to become alcoholics?" he asked. "It’s up to parents to parent their children."
