Marijuana Edibles Are a Serious Danger for Kids

The Children’s ER at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital is seeing increasing numbers of children for overdoses of THC (which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana).

Overdoses can happen when kids get their hands on edible THC treats that adults have purchased or made at home but not stored safely and securely.

“A piece of candy or a cookie may seem harmless,” says J. Nathan Hagstrom, MD, Chair of Pediatrics at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, “but a child consuming just one of these items containing THC can be serious.”

Emergency rooms across the country have reported cases of THC poisoning in children that have led to serious illness and even death. At the Children’s ER at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, pediatric emergency medicine physician Susan Yaeger, MD, says it’s important to share what a child may have eaten. “We are seeing these ingestions, and unfortunately families are not always up front with us about what the child may have eaten, so they may have unnecessary testing while we are trying to understand why a child is having these symptoms,” she says.

Edible THC treats can be very tempting for kids because of the way they are packaged. Some look like colorful gummy candies or lollipops. Others may be in “knockoff” packaging that resembles a familiar brand of treat. THC edibles also can take the form of ice cream, cookies and brownies, popcorn or even sugary beverages. Some treats are homemade, while others have been purchased elsewhere.

A single marijuana cookie or candy bar may contain several times the recommended dose of THC even for adults, and that can be a serious problem for kids who eat them. Even hemp-based products, also widely available, contain small amounts of THC.

Kids may seem intoxicated, paranoid or anxious. They may have altered perceptions or show signs of panic. They might be dizzy, weak, have slurred speech, poor coordination and may be extra sleepy. They might even have heart trouble or stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer.

Act quickly to find out what they ate and how much and if it was a purchased item, check the package to see how much THC it contains. Then call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222.

The best bet is not to have them in your home at all. Absent that, store them in a safe place (the way you store medications); never consume them in front of kids; avoid buying edibles with packages that look like familiar treats; and make sure you tell grandparents, babysitters and other caregivers that you have them around.

“Treat edibles like other dangerous drugs – in childproof containers and locked up,” Dr Yaeger says. “There are serious health risks for children if they consume even a small amount of THC.”

With Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, you have a partner that’s better prepared than any others in the region to care for your child. We’ve built an entire health network just for kids. Visit here for more information or call 888-402-LVHN (5846) to find a doctor or schedule an appointment.