Kids' Poisonings Rise as More Parents Bring Pot Edibles Home

(Health Day) With changing marijuana laws across the nation, the use of food laced with marijuana’s main active ingredient, THC, has increased in recent years. Unfortunately, the number of children accidentally ingesting these edibles has also gone up. 

Edibles often come in the form of gummies, cookies, and brownies. 

In 2016, 187 kids were exposed to marijuana edibles, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. In 2020, that number increased to over 3,100. 

"Pediatric cannabis edible exposures are on the rise nationwide," Dr. Diane Calello, who serves as executive and medical director of Rutgers’ New Jersey Poison Control Center.  

"From 2019 to 2020, we observed a 370% increase in calls, and we received an all-time high of over 150 calls in 2021. So, it's clearly going up." Read more.