Prescription Health: More children being hospitalized after consuming cannabis products
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The number of children sent to the E.R. for marijuana poisoning has increased by over 1,000%.
In the state of Maine, a new record was set for the amount of children accidentally consuming cannabis products.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says marijuana products that are designed to look and taste like ordinary food or candy make them highly attractive, and dangerous to children.
“They can have dizziness, they can have hallucinations, high heart rate, slurred speech, breathing problems, so really scary symptoms,” Dominic Lucia with the Baylor Scott & White Health company said.
The active ingredient in marijuana is THC, the chemical that causes people to feel "high." It poses both short and long-term dangers for children, including problems with nerve connections that can affect memory, learning, and IT.
THC can also cause mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. It can also lead to a higher risk of substance use later in life.
Unlike smoking, which produces immediate effects, THC edibles can take 30 minutes to an hour to kick in, and take up to three or four hours to reach their full potency.
The intensity of the effects varies depending on the size of the child. Parents who think their child consumed THC must immediately call the Poison Control Center Hotline at 1-800-222-1222.
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