NYC stores illegally selling THC drinks as officials warn shoppers, kids may get a high surprise

It’s high time New York nipped this in the bud.THC-infused drinks are sprouting up in unlicensed grocery stores and delis across the Big Apple — as officials warn unsuspecting shoppers and kids could be in for a drug-laced surprise.Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said he was “outraged” that the weed drinks are being illegally sold alongside regular beverages in bodegas and other spots in the five boroughs while state authorities appear to have done little to crack down on the problem.“I’m outraged that a local supermarket chain in Manhattan is illegally selling potent THC drinks alongside ordinary fruit juices and sodas, where any child could purchase these products and suffer from severe, life-threatening toxicity,” Holyman-Sigal.The unexpected high could be a buzzkill for kids’ health, experts said — with the American Academy of Pediatrics warning that cannabis can lead to serious medical problems for children.In adults, THC drinks can produce feelings of euphoria and relaxation, but they can also trigger anxiety, paranoia, nausea, vomiting and a faster heart rate — especially in people new to cannabis, according to Harvard Medical School.THC drinks can only be sold at licensed marijuana shops in the state.But Holyman-Sigal said he already alerted the state’s Office of Cannabis Management to a violation at a supermarket in Manhattan last month, and the drinks were removed — only to pop up on shelves again.The Post found pot-laced drinks at dozens of delis citywide, including stores where the beverages were displayed alongside coffee, juice and soda.Shoppers told The Post they did not even realize the drinks were infused with THC.College student Maya Nelson, 21, said the shelf setup provided the drinks with some cannabis camouflage.“I would have thought that was kombucha,” Nelson said.“They’ve got the sort of hippie packaging.”The manager of a deli on Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg said he just ordered the gre...