US manufacturer of cannabis-laced snacks shut down

US agents said they shut down a California factory that made cannabis-laced snacks intended for medical users of the drug.

The Drug Enforcement Agency said it arrested three people on Wednesday and is looking for a fourth who operated Oakland-based Tainted Inc.

Agents seized 460 marijuana plants and other products including marijuana-laced barbecue sauce, chocolate-covered pretzels, sweets, cookies, marshmallow pies, ice cream, peanut butter, jelly and energy drinks.

Tainted Inc was launched by Michael Martin, 33, of El Sobrante, as a small operation that made laced chocolate truffles.

When it was raided on Wednesday, the company was shipping products to medical marijuana dispensaries throughout California and in Seattle; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Amsterdam. Authorities said the operation also had ties to Los Angeles pot clubs and believe it has ordered four tons of chocolate over the past two years to make cannabis-laced candy.

The raids of the factory and four Bay Area houses came after a two-year investigation and growing police concern that the legalisation of medicinal marijuana in several states has caused a proliferation of large-scale marijuana-lacing operations.