NEW YORK (NEWSnet/AP) — As recreational marijuana shops increase across the country, many health officials have growing concerns over the packaging and marketing of flavored cannabis that could appeal to people under 21.

New York, which legalized recreational marijuana in March 2021, forbids marketing and advertising that “is designed in any way to appeal to children or other minors."

But New York's state Office of Cannabis Management has yet to officially adopt rules on labeling, packaging and advertising that could ban cartoons and neon colors, as well as prohibit depictions of food, candy, soda, drinks, cookies or cereal on packaging — all of which, the agency suggests, could attract people under 21.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marijuana use may harm the developing teenage brain, saying it may lead to difficulty thinking and reduced coordination. 

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