Cannabis candies spark Halloween anxiety
Key Takeaways
Recent news reports of kids accidentally ingesting THC-laced candy may be frightening parents this Halloween, but intentional tampering is rare.
Kids who eat THC goodies may present with drowsiness, confusion, poor coordination, and even nausea or vomiting.
If parents suspect that their kids have eaten THC candy, they should seek medical care rather than try at-home remedies.
Imagine this: It’s Halloween night and one of your neighbors is doing what they do every year—handing out candy to the local trick-or-treaters. Only this year, they’re accidentally handing out cannabis edibles.
That’s exactly what happened in 2022 when a Canadian woman, Tammy Sigurdur, ran out of candy and grabbed extra from a closet, where she stored a mix of regular candy and cannabis edibles.[] The mix-up occurred because the edibles looked nearly identical to Nerds-brand candy.
Sigurdur said that she didn’t realize she had also grabbed the edibles, as she wasn’t wearing her glasses at the time. It wasn’t until a parent discovered one of the edibles while going through their child’s stash that the mistake became known.
The candy contained 600 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In Canada, edibles are only allowed to contain up to 10 milligrams per package. Fortunately, none of the kids were harmed by the candies, but Sigurdur said that the incident had a deep effect on her mental health. She was sentenced to pay $5,000 in fines.
Latest Case
This has happened in the US, too. Just last week, 17 kids were medically evaluated after possibly eating THC candies, according to ABC7.[] “Emergency room doctors say they're seeing more and more cases of kids finding their way into what looks like a fun treat, but ends up being a dangerous trip to the hospital,” ABC7 reported.
It’s worth noting that while this is unfortunate, it’s usually a mix-up, and intentional tampering is rare.[]
Signs of THC ingestion in kids
Leah Alexander, MD, a pediatrician at Baby Toddler Kids, says that it’s crucial for parents to know the signs of cannabis intoxication and what to do if it occurs.
What HCPs Should Know
The key issue? Clinicians and parents may not even know kids are affected right away. To kids, the packaging of edibles is colorful and appetizing. “Marijuana edibles can look a whole lot like regular candies and gummies, and because their effects can take a while to kick in, children might not even realize something is wrong,” Dr. Alexander says. A general rule of thumb is that edibles with cannabis can kick in 30 minutes to a few hours after ingestion, depending on the dose and the child’s body weight and metabolism.
Dr. Alexander says that symptoms of THC ingestion could include drowsiness, confusion, poor coordination, and even nausea or vomiting. If enough is ingested, a child may experience labored breathing, an irregular heart rate, and extreme lethargy (which could look like the child is falling asleep very quickly).
“If you suspect your child has eaten an edible, stay calm but act quickly,” she warns parents. “While it may feel tempting to try home remedies, edibles can affect children more strongly than adults due to their smaller size and developing systems.” Parents will want to seek medical attention to get the best care. There are things that parents can do while waiting for care. “Create a quiet, calm environment, and reassure them—as they may feel confused or frightened—which can help reduce their anxiety and discomfort. If they’re able to drink, offer small sips of water to keep them hydrated,” Dr. Alexander says. In this case, skip the sugary drinks.
Tips for making sure that Halloween candy is safe
“If anything looks unusual or doesn’t have a recognizable brand or label, it’s safest to discard it. While incidents like this are rare, being vigilant can help keep Halloween safe and fun for everyone,” Dr. Alexander says.
Janet Lazieh, MD, a pediatrician at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, NJ, adds an important piece of insight to the above advice: “Cannabis edibles often come in packaging that mimics popular candies,” she says. Some of the THC edibles on the market are made to look exactly like household candy brands.[] It could be worth taking a second glance at and familiarizing yourself with the packaging of edible candies. The best bet? Look over each piece of candy your child wants to eat, and let the kids know that they should bring home all of their candy before chowing down.
Since cannabis is so popular these days, Dr. Lazieh recommends educating yourself on it—and not just during Halloween. “Many community health organizations provide resources on the risks of accidental cannabis exposure. Consider sharing these with other parents or caregivers to raise awareness,” she recommends. Realizing that parents sometimes like to enjoy cannabis edibles, Dr. Lazieh says, “If you keep cannabis edibles at home, ensure they’re stored separately from Halloween candy in child-proof containers and [are] out of reach.”