Edibles and the dangers they pose to children
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI)- Gummy bears, gummy worms, brownies and now what looks like soda cans are enticing children and teenagers toward marijuana edibles.
Cape Girardeau patrolman Bobby Newton says there have been reports of children overdosing on these products.
“So, marijuana is being infused in several different products now.” Newton says the police department is seeing a lot of teenagers possessing edibles illegally, which can lead to smaller children obtaining them.
He adds, “So, if the children do get ahold of the marijuana edibles and they consume a large amount of it, they can potentially overdose from marijuana, you’re going to see lethargic and their bodies they’re going to go basically limp. It’s important to get them medical attention immediately. We really encourage parents if they are going to have that in the household to make sure that is locked up, it’s in a protective location.”
Director of Behavioral Health – Residential for the Gibson Center for Behavioral Change, Scott Moyers says Missouri saw an alarming number increase in the amount of children ages five and under exposed to marijuana edibles.
He says, “2018 there were seven, in 2019 there were 26, in 2020 there were 57, in 2021 there were 102, and then 2022 there were 125, and of course, 2022 was the year we had the ballot initiative, legalizing marijuana, and then from January to September, which is the most recent data, there were 168 so the number is just going up and up and up.”
Moyers notes, to keep watch of where you are storing your edibles, making sure to keep them in a lock box or medicine cabinet, not buying packaged edibles that look like candy, Moyers adds that parents should be cautious of consuming edibles in front of their children as well.
Saying, “Our children tend to idolize us and are going to want to try things that we’re trying, so be very careful, they want to be like mom and dad so be careful that you’re not letting you see them consume them if you feel like you have to consume them.”
According to the CDC, like any other drug marijuana’s effects on a person depend on a number of factors, including previous experience with the drug or other drugs, their biology, gender, how potent the drug is and how it’s taken.
both Moyers and patrolman Newton stress that if you suspect a child has consumed these products to seek medical attention, especially if the child has underlying health conditions.
