Michigan’s poison control center received 387 reports of kids under age six ingesting or being exposed to cannabis and marijuana in 2024, a record high for the state.
Most of these were accidental when curious children found and ate items containing THC.
Experts say parents need to lock up marijuana products at home.
The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency teamed up with local agencies and two locally owned recreational marijuana sellers to distribute safe storage locking bags.
Branch County
“We are pleased to have again received grant funding from the Marihuana Operation and Oversight Grant to support the Lock It Up campaign. These dollars are provided based on medical marijuana cards issued in each county,” said Health Officer Rebecca Burns.
The health agency warns that edibles are a problem. State regulations require the marijuana industry to use child-resistant packaging and prohibit the sale of edibles that look like candy. There are unregulated, unlicensed products available that are packaged like popular candy.
Common symptoms of THC ingestion in children include:
While most kids do well with treatment, poison control data suggest 105 were hospitalized, with 23 requiring critical care.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services believes child THC ingestion is often not reported because reports trigger Child Protective Services intervention.
Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Health agency offers free marijuana, THC safety bags to protect children
Reporting by Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter / Coldwater Daily Reporter
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