Cannabis is also known as weed, marijuana, hashish, hash, and pot. Children are at risk of poisoning if they eat or drink items containing cannabis. Cannabis poisoning in children is most common when children mistake foods containing cannabis for regular foods (e.g., gummy bears, brownies, lollipops, sweet drinks). Even small doses of cannabis can be dangerous to children. Smaller children are at higher risk of cannabis poisoning because of their smaller size and weight, which makes them more sensitive to the active ingredient in cannabis (THC or tetrahydrocannabinol). The effects of cannabis poisoning are also more severe in younger children. Potential harms associated with cannabis poisoning include respiratory distress and admission to intensive care units.
Signs of cannabis poisoning include: