DEA SAYS POT CANDY IS NOT DANDY

2 Arrested -- Group Accused Of Making Drug-Laced Treats, Beverages

Federal drug agents raided warehouses in Oakland and Emeryville and
arrested a Lafayette man and 11 other people Thursday on charges that
they made candy and soft drinks resembling popular goodies but laced
with marijuana.

Authorities say Kenneth Affolter, 39, of Lafayette is the leader of
the outfit, which called itself Beyond Bomb and allegedly
manufactured a range of pot-laced treats with names Buddahfingers,
Munchy Way, Rasta Reece's and Puff-a-Mint Pattie.

"This is the biggest candy marijuana factory that we have seen on the
West Coast," said Javier Pena, special agent in charge of the federal
Drug Enforcement Administration in San Francisco.

"There was a great deal of sophistication that involved different
labels, pretty much knockoffs of the real thing. This is potentially
dangerous for kids and people who don't know what they're eating and
what they're drinking."

The defendants are to appear today in U.S. District Court in San
Francisco on charges of distribution of marijuana.

Drug agents searched two adjoining warehouses on Yerba Buena Avenue
where the marijuana candy was produced. They also searched a
warehouse on Adeline Street, Affolter's Lafayette home and 1740
Telegraph Ave. in Oakland, a location associated with the
Compassionate Caregivers Club, a medical marijuana dispensary,
authorities said.

During the raids, investigators seized about $100,000 in cash,
between 4,000 and 5,000 marijuana plants, marijuana-growing
equipment, three weapons and hundreds of sodas and candy laced with
marijuana, Pena said.

The doctored treats were packaged for shipment throughout the West
Coast, authorities said.

The investigation began in October when DEA agents in Oakland learned
of the operation. On Thursday, agents seized numerous candies and
drinks with labels including, Keef Kat, Stoney Ranchers, Puffsi and Toka-Cola.