A disturbing trend has emerged across the United States as cannabis poisoning in children reaches alarming levels. Poison control centres report a dramatic increase from approximately 930 cases in 2009 to more than 22,000 last year, with three-quarters of incidents involving young people. The proliferation of cannabis edibles, particularly brightly coloured gummies that resemble sweets, has created a growing public health crisis.

The Ohio Classroom Incident

Amy Enochs experienced every parent’s nightmare when her central Ohio elementary school went into lockdown three years ago. Her fourth-grade daughter, along with several classmates, had consumed marijuana gummies that a student mistook for Easter candy. The children required hospitalisation, suffering from racing pulses, nausea and hallucinations.

“I was scared to death,” Enochs recalled, her voice breaking. “It was shock and panic.”

When Enochs arrived at hospital, she found her daughter experiencing severe symptoms. “Her eyes were rolled back in her head, and she was completely out of it,” she said. The girl hallucinated that aliens had infested the school and believed she possessed superpowers.

The gummies, each containing 50 milligrams of THC, belonged to a classmate’s father, who kept them in a kitchen cabinet. He later pleaded guilty to inducing panic and obstructing official business, and no contest to drug possession, receiving probation and orders to pay fines and restitution.

Alarming Statistics Behind Cannabis Poisoning in Children

Data from America’s Poison Centers reveals that more than 13,000 cases last year caused documented negative effects and received classification as nonlethal poisonings. Public health officials emphasise these figures likely represent an undercount, as hospitals face no requirement to report such cases.

The New York Times conducted an extensive investigation, examining national Poison Centers data, surveying regional centres and over 200 doctors, reviewing court records, and interviewing physicians and public health experts. The investigation identified dozens of children nationwide who consumed cannabis products from relatives’ or friends’ stashes and required hospitalisation with paranoia, vomiting or other poisoning symptoms.

Severe Medical Consequences

Whilst most cannabis exposure instances did not produce severe physical effects according to poison control data, a growing number of poisonings have led to breathing problems or other life-threatening consequences. In 2009, just 10 such cases reached poison centres. Last year, more than 620 cases occurred, with children and teens comprising the vast majority. More than 100 patients required ventilators.

Dr Robert Hendrickson, an emergency physician and professor at Oregon Health & Science University, described treating increasing numbers of patients for cannabis poisoning in children. One case involved a toddler who ended up in intensive care after eating a cannabis biscuit. “The child had a seizure and then was put on a ventilator” and experienced several more seizures, he said.

Since 2009, America’s Poison Centers has judged four deaths as likely caused by cannabis poisoning. One involved a child or teen and occurred accidentally. The other deaths involved intentional misuse or abuse, the organisation stated. Officials have yet to finalise 2024 data.

Why Cannabis Products Pose Greater Risks to Children

Dr Shamieka Virella Dixon, a paediatrician at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, shared her clinical experience. “I definitely have seen floridly psychotic 2-year-olds just waiting for the marijuana to leave their system because they got into someone’s gummies,” she said.

The Toxicity Factor

Cannabis toxicity depends largely on product potency and person size. A sufficiently high THC dose can sedate someone so much that their tongue blocks their windpipe, or it can trigger a seizure requiring intubation. However, doctors note an adult would need to consume a very large amount of cannabis to become that ill. Hundreds or even thousands of milligrams of THC might be necessary to cause severe side effects in a 150-pound adult, but far less affects a child.

“It can be just devastating to watch a child in that state,” said Dr Laurén Murphy, an emergency physician and medical toxicologist at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia’s poison control centre reported cases involving young children had become “almost a daily occurrence”, including some who experienced breathing problems or fell into comas.

The Packaging Problem

Emergency physicians, paediatricians, toxicologists and other doctors expressed concern about the growing public perception that THC, the intoxicating component in cannabis, is completely safe. As cannabis products proliferate, including those with hemp-derived THC that remains legal in many states where marijuana isn’t, adults can unwittingly expose children to risk. Officials deemed most reported cannabis exposures last year unintentional.

“We’re seeing a lot of accidental overdoses just because of the packaging,” said Dr Stephen Sandelich, a paediatric emergency physician and assistant professor at Penn State. He confirmed he had intubated several children who ingested cannabis products.

The Florida Mislabelling Case

Rebecca Villarreal’s experience in Florida three years ago illustrates the dangers of inadequate labelling. At a shop selling treats both with and without THC, her 3-year-old son Emilio selected a cake pop labelled “kid friendly”. He ate it and soon fell asleep. Then, she recalled, “he woke up screaming.”

The toddler appeared to hallucinate, shrieking about spiders in his throat. The family rushed to hospital and soon learned the cake pop carried incorrect labelling and contained 100 milligrams of THC.

Emilio stayed for several hours, trembling and unable to do much more than sleep or stare into space. He recovered the next day, but the family experienced profound distress.

Adults Also Affected

Though most documented cannabis poisoning in children represents the majority of cases, adults, particularly older adults, remain vulnerable. A study published last year found that after Canada legalised cannabis sales, emergency room visits amongst people aged 65 and older shot up.

The lead researcher explained older adults may be prone to overdose for various reasons, including slowing metabolisms, potential medication interactions and far greater potency than the marijuana of their youth.

Regulatory Challenges and Industry Resistance

Most states have potency limits for THC edibles, but many physicians argue the caps remain too high, often 100 milligrams per package. At least one state, Michigan, allows foods with 200 milligrams. Doctors and public health officials have criticised packaging and marketing that might appeal to children.

Industry Pushback

Cannabis lobbyists in some states have resisted additional restrictions, warning lawmakers this could send consumers to the illegal market and deprive states of tax revenue. As public health advocates seek more protections, they face an industry that sometimes downplays or rejects evidence of harm. Some existing rules remain vague or receive uneven enforcement.

Dr Hendrickson served on a committee about a decade ago that helped set Oregon’s limit to 50 milligrams per package. He said officials intended it to protect children. Even if a child managed to eat the whole package, the effects would be less likely to prove life-threatening.

In 2022, Oregon doubled the limit.

For a toddler, Dr Hendrickson said, that could mean “the difference between being really sleepy and spending the night in the emergency room, and being on a ventilator.”

Legal Consequences for Caregivers

The Times investigation identified at least 38 cannabis-related poisoning cases that led to charges filed against parents and other caregivers. These prosecutions reflect growing recognition of the serious risks cannabis poisoning in children presents.

Long-Term Impact on Families

Ms Enochs said that in the aftermath of the incident, her daughter felt unsafe at school and was afraid to go to sleep at night. Now, three years later, she has recovered physically, but the “mental scar” remains, her mother said. “The memories are still there.”

Generally, doctors say people recover within days if they receive effective treatment, but the symptoms and the memory of them can prove frightening.

The Path Forward

Each year, tens of millions of Americans use cannabis, most without problems. However, the rising tide of cannabis poisoning in children demands urgent attention to packaging standards, potency limits and public education.

Medical professionals call for stricter regulations around edible cannabis products, including:

• Lower potency limits per package
• Child-resistant packaging that doesn’t resemble sweets or snacks
• Clear labelling requirements
• Restrictions on marketing that might appeal to young people
• Public awareness campaigns about safe storage

The challenge lies in balancing adult access to legal cannabis products with protecting vulnerable children from accidental exposure. As legalisation and commercialisation of cannabis spread across the country, making marijuana edibles more readily available, the need for comprehensive safety measures becomes increasingly critical.

Public health experts emphasise that preventing cannabis poisoning in children requires a multi-faceted approach involving industry responsibility, regulatory oversight and parental vigilance about secure storage of all cannabis products in homes.

Source: New York Times