Brownies Sending Kids to the Hospital?!

a pile of brownies on an earthenware plate

Brownies Sending Kids to the Hospital?!

You might have to think twice about letting your kids eat homemade cookies or brownies next time you’re at your grandmother’s house. The number of children being unintentionally poisoned by marijuana has been growing. In Colorado, where medical marijuana has been legal since 2009, there have been more than a dozen cases. Just When You Thought a Brownie Was Safe As the number of cases of marijuana-poisoned children increases, so has the severity of the symptoms, according to Dr. George Sam Wang of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center in Denver. The only way for doctors to properly test and diagnose these children is if their parents are honest about what the children ingested. Medical marijuana contains higher levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, the active chemical in marijuana. This makes it more potent than regular marijuana. Because of these high levels found in medical marijuana, the symptoms are more severe and children may need to be hospitalized briefly. Thankfully, the side effects are not permanent and not fatal.

Keeping Your Stash Out of the Reach of Children

Grandparents’ medical marijuana has been the culprit for the reported cases of poisoning in children. However, grandparents don’t need to be worried about being prosecuted. As long as these medical marijuana users are complying with state laws, they won’t get arrested. But people are advised to keep the marijuana out of the reach of children, especially if it’s baked into desserts. Although there have not been any major consequences for the accidental poisonings, Colorado’s recent legalization of marijuana for recreational use means that parents and grandparents should be more vigilant. Do you think the new laws on marijuana—both medical and recreational—can be dangerous to children? Share your thoughts on Stepping Stone Center’s Facebook page.