Dive Brief:
- Hershey has filed a federal trademark lawsuit against the Seattle Conscious Care Cooperative for selling pot-filled knock-offs of its candy brands.
- At issue are products called "Reefers Peanut Butter Cups," which resemble Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and "Mr. Dankbar," which look like Mr. Goodbar candy.
- Hershey is said to have filed a similar lawsuit against a pot dispenser in Colorado.
Dive Insight:
The legal pot business is still in its infancy in the United States. Medical marijuana is available for sale now in 20 states. But only Washington State and Colorado allow the sale of pot for recreational use.
The illegal drug business also has a long history of linking its products to candy, cartoons and other symbols of childhood.
So it's likely to take awhile before the pot vendors learn some of the basic rules of branding, trademarks, and corporate reputation.