United States: Delta-8 THC, a cannabis overshoot, is in the news when a growing number of children are accidentally consuming edibles containing drugs such as marijuana.
Most recently, THC-infused gummies have been sold across stores, making them easily accessible to people, the report by US Today mentioned.
What are THC gummies?
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a psychoactive ingredient found in cannabis plants, which is illegal federally, but its use is widely increased in the US after Congress legalized the use of hemp in the Farm Bill of 2018.
Although hemp contains considerably lower amounts of THC as compared to traditional cannabis, some manufacturers have changed the potency of the psychoactive ingredient in edibles. Among the edibles made with THC are gummies, chocolates, lollipops, cookies, and other baked goods, USA Today reported.
Growing number of accidental eating among children
According to researchers in Illinois, it is found that the number of children under six years old who accidentally consumed edible cannabis products rose from 207 in 2017 to 3,014 cases in 2021. Among them, around one-fourth of children were admitted to the hospitals. These findings were published in the journal Pediatrics earlier this year, USA Today reported.
Additionally, according to the report by the Wall Street Journal, pediatric hemp poisoning cases have tripled in numbers since 2021.
As per the reports from the National Poison Data System, more than 7,000 cases of child exposure to edible cannabis products were reported from 2017-2021. More than half of the children were toddlers, ages 2 and 3, the study showed. More than 90 percent got the edibles at home, USA Today reported.
Rising accessibility in states
Presently, 37 states in the United States allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, while 21 states allow it for some adult recreational use. Therefore, with a growing number of states allowing cannabis products in markets, the number of children consuming marijuana-laced treats is growing, too.
As Cannabis-infused products are gaining popularity, it is critical to draw a line between what is safe and what is not.
Since 2014, access to Marijuana products has grown when Colorado became the first state to make the historic decision to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
Recognizing cannabis poisoning in kids
Slow breathing and slow heart rate are the common symptoms among children admitted to Critical Care Units, as per the researchers. Other symptoms are said to be drowsiness, breathing problems, fast heart rate, vomiting, agitation, confusion, and poor muscle control.
No deaths were reported in children in the last five years of the study, as per USA Today.
Kevin Osterhoudt, Medical Director of The Poison Control Center and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on the American Academy of Pediatrics, said that unintentional marijuana consumption generally happens at home. Therefore parents should keep any edibles safely and must avoid buying them in packages that appear as traditional treats or candies.
Researchers also advise changing packaging and labeling and regulating the maximum allowable dose in a package.