Every so often a story so Canadian comes up that it borders on parody.
This is one of those times. Rest assured you are NOT reading The Beaverton.
Over the weekend, an eight-year-old boy won $200 worth of marijuana goods in a raffle at a youth hockey tournament in B.C. According to family statements, the boy thought he was bidding on a bag of chocolate. And he was. Kind of. Weed chocolate.
“My grandson thought he won a great prize,” said the boy’s grandfather, Keith Redl. “‘Dad, I won chocolate!’ ‘No, son, there’s bad drugs in the chocolate.’ How do you explain that to a kid?” Great question.
Dawson Creek Minor Hockey Association said the edibles didn’t appear on the prize table (only a photo was shown). The winner was also given the option to reject the prize. That did not happen. Redi’s son, who is of legal weed enjoyment age, picked up the prize and took it home.
By all indications, it seems as though the raffle was intended for adults. Many typically include wine baskets and vineyard tours. Nevertheless, Redi called the situation “ludicrous.”
“I was a policeman for 32 years and you (…) try to protect people from stuff and then your eight-year-old grandson brings up running into this, it’s just ridiculous,” said Redi.
Dawson Creek Minor Hockey Association appreciates his concerns and will ensure its “charitable events are in keeping with [its] policies and government policies” moving forward.