Stickers Removed After Public Concern
Promotional stickers featuring QR codes that linked to an online cannabis retailer have been largely removed from streets in Bolton. The stickers, which were spotted on lampposts around Blackburn Road in Astley Bridge, drew significant public concern after reports emerged that a nine-year-old child had scanned one of the codes.
The QR codes directed users to the website Happylabs.so, which advertised various cannabis products, including pre-rolls, flower, and oil vapes. Following complaints from local residents and councillors, including Cllr Hilary Fairclough, most of the stickers have been taken down.
Regulation and Responsibility
Cllr Fairclough highlighted the risks of such marketing, noting that the placement and design of the stickers were likely to attract the attention of children. "These days children have phones, so they click on the link and away they go, and it's quite shocking that it comes up with that," she stated.
In response to the backlash, Happylabs.so claimed they did not intend to cause alarm and stated they were reviewing the placement of their promotional materials. The company maintained that their services are intended for adults aged 18 and over, with age verification processes in place for deliveries.
While the incident has sparked debate regarding the visibility of cannabis-related marketing in public spaces, it also underscores the ongoing challenges of a grey-market industry operating outside of the UK’s current legal framework. The removal of these stickers serves as a reminder of the tension between evolving consumer demand for cannabis products and the lack of a formal, regulated retail environment in the UK.
Source: Yahoo News UK
