California Third Graders Hospitalized After Consuming THC-Infused Edibles

The four students attended North Broadway Elementary School in Escondido

Four students at a California elementary school were hospitalized Wednesday after eating edibles or food laced with THC. The students, who are all in third grade, attended North Broadway Elementary School in Escondido.

Emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the school and the students were transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation. After the incident, the Escondido Union School District warned the community about the risks of cannabis edibles.

In a statement, according to NBC San Diego, the Escondido school district said, “The widespread availability and commercialization of THC-laced ‘edibles’ is a growing concern for school communities across the state, including our own.”

School officials throughout San Diego County say cannabis-infused meals can easily be replaced with regular snacks and candy. The district emphasized that edibles are prohibited at all school events and activities.

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Photo of North Broadway Elementary School in Escondido, California.

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Since the legalization of cannabis in 2015, Rady Children’s Hospital has seen an increase in the number of children treated for ingestion, from a few cases to hundreds a year. The hospital reports that the average age of these patients is approximately 3.5 years, according to NBC San Diego. Excessive consumption of cannabis in children can cause serious, potentially life-threatening consequences.

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“You take your average dose of edible cannabis which can be somewhere between 5 and 10 to 20 milligrams for an adult — that dose can make a child critically ill,” Dr. Natalie Laub, a pediatrician at Rady Children’s Hospital, told NBC San Diego.

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently vetoed Assembly Bill 1207, also called the Cannabis Candy Safety for Kids Act, which Dr. Laub co-authored based on her research. This law aimed to mandate changes to the packaging of edible cannabis products to make them less appealing to children.

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Photo of gummy bears and marijuana.

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Dr. Laub’s concern stems from products that resemble well-known snacks, such as “Double Stuffed Stoneyos” and “Rice Krispyz.” dr. Laub commented, “These products mimic candies, cookies and other snacks. The rate at which children are consuming them is increasing and I fear it will become even more widespread.”

The California Department of Health advises safe storage of cannabis and its edible products out of the reach of children and pets.

Last week, six children were hospitalized after consuming candy now believed to be infused with cannabis at the Boys & Girls Club in Lauderhill, Florida, according to multiple reports. The Lauderhill Police Department was called to the Boys & Girls Club three times after eight children consumed candy, police said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

The remaining six were transported to the hospital in stable condition for further evaluation. In the meantime, they have been released from the hospital, the police said.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education