Higher Dose Weed Edibles Could Protect Kids

As a parent, it is understandable to have a nightmare scenario of your child being poisoned from cannabis edibles at home.

On July 16, a group of parents became concerned when their children began acting strangely after eating candy they had found in the house. Upon questioning, the children admitted to having eaten the candy without asking for permission first.

The hospital treated five children under the age of 10 for minor injuries and released them the same day. The police were also notified.

The use of cannabis products is legal in Canada, Victoria Police advised in a press release.

Given that some cannabis products look very similar to non-cannabis products, officers are urging users to safely store them out of reach of children.

Illegal edibles often have misleading packaging that can be confusing to kids and parents. This can pose a serious safety risk, as people may unknowingly consume products that contain harmful substances.

After examining the candy packaging more closely, the parents were horrified to discover that the candy contained THC-infused “Stoner Patch Kids,” unregulated cannabis-infused edibles that come in familiar packaging that looks very similar to Sour Patch Kids.

This is not the first time that something like this has happened. Unfortunately, some children have had much more severe reactions to the vaccine.

Illegal edibles to blame for most pediatric poisonings

A recent study by researchers at Toronto’s Sick Kids Hospital has found that recreational cannabis legalization is associated with an increase in children’s hospital admissions for intoxication.

The availability and accessibility of edible cannabis products has increased since legalization, and these products are often appealing to children. This is likely to be a contributing factor to the increase in cannabis use among young people.

The researchers found that there was no change in the number of kids going to the hospital for cannabis poisoning before and after legalization.

It’s interesting that cannabis edibles didn’t become legal in Canada until October of 2019, and they weren’t available on shelves until December of that year. This shows how quickly the cannabis industry is growing, and it’s proof that there is a lot of interest in this product category.

The period before legalization ran from Jan. 1, 2008 to April 12, 2017, while the period after legalization was defined as April 13, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2019.

The study found that while pediatric poisonings may have become more severe since legalization, most of these cases can be attributed to unregulated edibles. This is likely because these products were not yet for sale when the study was conducted.

Consumers seek out higher dose edibles in the unregulated market

As a legacy entrepreneur who started in 2015, Fritz has seen a lot of unregulated edibles brands on the market. Some are more scrupulous than others, but Fritz believes that all brands should be held to the same standards of quality and safety.

“Her main motivation is money,” she says. “They don’t think about access or security or help parents keep it away from kids or education. They’re just trying to sell a product that consumers want to buy.”

She acknowledges that, even though licensed edibles brands are now available, many consumers still prefer to buy them.

In the legal cannabis market, brands are limited to 10 mg of THC per package and are not allowed to use colors, characters, or branding that could be remotely alluring to kids. Meanwhile, illicit vendors are still fulfilling the demand for fun, flavourful and potent edibles that come in colorful packages and don’t cost a fortune.

There are many people who say that they don’t want to spend a lot of money to get a small amount of THC. However, for people with a higher tolerance, they may need to spend more money to get the desired effect.

While Health Canada does not currently have plans to increase the potency of edibles, this may change in the future in order to attract more experienced or price-conscious consumers to the regulated market.

Health Canada ultimately wants to reduce accidental consumption

In a statement provided by senior media relations officer Tammy Jarbeau, Health Canada agrees that the majority or all of the edibles poisonings in the study should be attributed to unregulated products.

Licensed edibles must be child-proof and clearly labeled with a large THC symbol and warning labels. Health Canada has also launched extensive educational campaigns to warn parents about the dangers of higher potencies in unregulated edibles and how to store them safely.

There are serious consequences for breaking the Cannabis Act, including a maximum fine of $5 million, three years in jail, or both.

The Government of Canada strictly regulates all legal cannabis product packaging to ensure safety and compliance.

These measures are aimed at reducing the risks of accidental consumption and overconsumption, as well as reducing the appeal of cannabis products to young people.

Health Canada has issued advisories to health care practitioners and the public to raise awareness of the higher potencies of unregulated edibles, how to store them properly, and the higher risk they pose to kids who accidentally ingest them.

Misleading media and police statements are fear-mongering

Despite our best efforts, it’s unclear if the police and media are receptive to our message.

The police press release in the case of the Victoria poisonings fails to highlight that the edibles are unregulated and have higher potency, which suggests that legal edibles are to blame.

It is unacceptable that the police cannot lay charges against those who package cannabis products to resemble non-cannabis products, given that there are laws in place designed to protect children from exposure to such products.

Despite the misinformation surrounding cannabis, it is possible that parents are more willing to bring their kids to the ER for accidental poisonings than they were before legalization. This could be due to a lack of fear or ignorance about the plant and its effects.

“Obviously that’s a worrying trend, and when kids get their hands on edibles, that’s a problem,” he says.

Parents are more aware now of the signs of intoxication than they were before marijuana was legalized. This is a good thing, as it means they are more likely to seek medical help for their children if they need it.

Edibles that are not regulated can be more potent and often come in attractive packaging. However, all edibles need to be handled carefully if there are children present.

Talking to kids about cannabis

Cannabis is a complex and often misunderstood topic, but it’s important to talk to kids about it in an open and honest way. Cannabis use can have both positive and negative effects, so it’s important to educate kids on the risks and rewards of using it. By having an open and honest conversation about cannabis, you can help your kids make informed decisions about whether or not to use it.

It may be time for a conversation with your kids when they get older and it becomes more difficult to hide anything, according to Tabitha Fritz, who has three kids with her partner.

“My kids all know that if you choose to take cannabis, your brain will basically let go of the connections it was preparing to make that day,” she says, referring to the effects of cannabis on brain development.

My kids are smart and they want to keep getting smarter, so they know that choosing not to do drugs is the right choice for them.