The number of American states to legalize recreational marijuana has surged in recent years, up from eight in 2017 to 18 in 2022. But as the stigma surrounding pot fades, the drug’s unintended consequences are intensifying. Most alarming is a rise in kids accidentally consuming adult cannabis-infused “edibles.” Newly published research shows how legal marijuana today is affecting not just adults but young children.
How are kids getting marijuana edibles? It’s a combination of increased at-home use of edibles and deceptive packaging. Edibles are often packaged to look like popular candies and snacks geared toward kids, such as Nerds Rope, gummy bears, or Doritos. Edibles are also unlikely to have child-resistant packaging, making it easy for a curious toddler to take a nibble.
How much has children’s consumption of edibles increased? Using national poison center data, a Jan. 3 Pediatrics report noted a dramatic spike in kids under age 6 exposed to cannabis after accidentally ingesting an edible. The journal reported 207 such cases in 2017, and 3,054 cases in 2021—growth that mirrors the expansion of legalized recreational marijuana. Of those children who ate edibles, 91 percent did so in their own homes.
What risks do these edibles pose to children? Children are less able to handle the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound in marijuana that produces a high, and are more likely to eat multiple servings. Of the 7,043 total exposures…
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