Officials with the North Carolina Poison Control (NCPC) warned that there has been a noticeable increase in exposure to cannabis products among children aged 12 and under.
The NCPC managed 1,122 exposure cases from cannabis products in 2024, with 42% of which involved children under 13 years. On the other hand, the agency managed 518 cannabis exposures in 2020, 27% of which were said to involve children under the age of 13.
Cannabis Exposure Among Children
The agency added that the cannabis products include gummies, edibles, and cannabis vape products, which can be dangerous for young kids. This is primarily because they have a lower body weight, which puts them at more risk of experiencing adverse effects.
Officials said that they are now concerned about the sudden rise in cannabis cases among children over time. Medical Director of NCPC, Dr. Michael Beuhler, said that parents should be aware that kids can become sick even after only one gummy, according to ABC11.
If parents notice that their kids have become exposed to cannabis products and are showing symptoms, they should call NCPC at 1-800-222-1222 to ask for immediate assistance. Officials also recommended that cannabis products should be stored securely away from young children.
The manager of communications and content development for NCPC, Alexa Steverson, said that kids are at risk of being enticed by the products' appealing packaging. They are also susceptible to easily mistaking edible products for familiar foods and snacks.
The main issue with kids being exposed to cannabis products is that they can experience cannabis poisoning, which has several symptoms, including difficulty breathing. Others include slurred speech, weakness, severe fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, WNCN reported.
Risk of an Overdose
Officials also expressed concern to parents that cannabis products may not always accurately depict the amount of THC that they contain. This could potentially increase the risk of an overdose in certain individuals.
The situation comes as a study investigated the relationship between smoking cannabis at home and secondhand exposure among children. It showed that kids who live in homes where other individuals smoke cannabis indoors had significantly higher exposure as the researchers found detectable THC biomarkers in the children's urine.
The study involved 275 children, 27.3% of which showed detectable levels of urinary cannabinoids. Additionally, households that reported in-home cannabis use were found to have five times higher odds of kids having detectable TTE levels compared to those without reported cannabis use, as per News Medical Life Sciences.
