Photo: ROBYN BECK / AFP / Getty Images
The attorneys general in several states issued warnings this week on edible products of cannabis that mimic normal snacks and sweets.
Warnings occur only a few days before Halloween , amid a national trend of children accidentally consuming them and falling ill.
The attorney general of Nueva York, Letitia James, warned in a statement that the edible products of Cannabis are “deceptively designed” to look like standard goodies. Instead, they contain high levels of cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, which is the main compound found in marijuana.
“These similar cannabis products are unregulated, unsafe and illegal.” Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in a statement. “Accidental cannabis overdoses by children are on the rise across the country, and these products will only make the situation worse.”
Tong cited a report from the American Poison Control Association that found that in the first half of 2021, poison control hotlines received approximately 2, 622 calls by young children who used edible cannabis products . And in the first nine months of 2020, the 80% of calls to the Poison Control Center were related to the exposure of children to edibles with cannabis .
“Accidental cannabis overdoses by children are on the rise across the country, and these similar products will only compound the danger by attracting children and youth,” said the Illinois Attorney General, Kwame Raoul .
Ohio Attorney General, Dave Yost, said those responsible for dispersing edible cannabis products near children “should reconsider how they choose to obtain Profits”. He advised parents to “be extra cautious, especially on Halloween , these knockoff products don’t end up in bags of sweets. ”
Risk of edibles with marijuana
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the edibles that it contained in marijuana have a higher risk of poisoning people and can cause serious injury, cause longer-lasting intoxicating effects, and be unpredictable.
THC in edibles can make children “very sick” and, in certain cases, require visits to the emergency room or hospitalization, the CDC warns.
Symptoms of a THC overdose include loss of coordination, lethargy, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness.
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