According to a new study, children are at increased risk of accidental poisoning from edibles and other products made from marijuana.
In order to come to this conclusion, the study had analyzed calls to poison control centers from January 2017 through December 2019.
Calls about poisoning as a result of consuming products such as weed concentrates, extracts, beverages, vape juice and edibles more often involved children under 10 years old, the study found. This was in comparison to calls about dried or pre-rolled cannabis plant poisonings.
The largest proportion of those calls involved edibles at 36.6%) says the study.
“Children are especially vulnerable to poisoning by cannabis in edible products. These products look like cookies, brownies, gummies, candy or soda. Many are even intentionally packaged to resemble popular sweets,” said Dr. Brian Johnston, an executive committee member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Injury, Violence and Poisoning Prevention. Johnston had not been part of the study.
The study found that products made from marijuana have “higher levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) than unprocessed cannabis plant materials.” This could result in greater short-term effects, such as “cognitive and psychomotor impairment.”
“Despite their ordinary appearance, a single cannabis cookie or candy bar can contain several times the recommended adult dose of THC. Anyone who eats one of these products — especially a child — can experience overdose effects such as intoxication, altered perception, anxiety, panic, paranoia, dizziness, weakness, slurred speech, poor coordination, or even breathing and heart problems,” Johnston said.
Earlier this year Mars Wrigley took legal action today in both the United States and Canada to send the illicit cannabis industry a strong signal to stop illegally using the company’s brands and products.
According to a press release from the company, “the lawsuit is intended to stop the illegal and dangerous misuse of its world-famous trademarks in the marketing and sale of THC-infused edibles, which closely resemble Mars Wrigley’s genuine products such as SKITTLES® and STARBURST®. Mars Wrigley does not manufacture or sell any products containing THC.”
“The situation has become more and more egregious,” said Christopher Gindlesperger, a spokesman for the National Confectioners Association, a trade organization in D.C. with 350 members, including Mars Inc., Hershey’s, Ferrara and Mondelez. “The cannabis companies cannot and should not be allowed to tarnish existing brands at will. It creates consumer confusion.”
