Dr. Eric Levene, pediatrician with Allied Physicians Group, New York State’s largest independent pediatric provider, and his colleagues urge parents to learn about how to protect their children from accidental consumption of cannabis products.

New laws in New York State allow the licensed sale of marijuana to those 21 years of age or older. Now that cannabis is legal for recreational use, many parents are unaware of the hazards and dangers of having edible cannabis in their homes or in homes of friends and relatives.

“At Allied Physicians Group, we have always been concerned about drug and alcohol use by teens. However, with the significant national rise in accidental consumption and overdoses with young children, we now must focus on educating parents about responsible cannabis use and storage,” said Levene.

Parents need to know the facts:

It is illegal to drive while high as it impairs cognitive motor skills and decision-making. Drivers who are high will be charged with a DUI and will face the same penalties as they were drinking and driving.

According to Leandra’s Law, penalties for driving impaired with children under 16 in a vehicle are greater than when driving alone.

Edible marijuana takes longer to enter a person’s system and this process can take up to several hours.

For children, cannabis harms developing brains, impacts the ability to think and solve problems, affects memory loss, reduces coordination and causes difficulty maintaining attention.

Cannabis potency has steadily increased over the years. Even small amounts can have long-term impacts on children.

Tips for safely securing cannabis:

Keep marijuana and cannabis products in secure places well out of the reach of children.

Ensure that all edible and other cannabis products are kept in a lockable, safe storing container that children do not have access to.

Make sure all edible and other cannabis products are out of sight and never left out.

Talk with children about the dangers of using cannabis.

“For those who buy cannabis products, secure them like you would alcohol or medications in the home. Lock them away, do not keep them anywhere near the kitchen or places where families normally eat. Today, edible cannabis is packaged to look like ordinary candies and goods with familiar-looking brand names and graphics. They can easily be confused for treats like gummy bears, lollipops and baked goods like cookies or brownies,” said Dr. Levene.

For parents, it is important to know the signs and be aware if your child has accidentally consumed marijuana. Young children who unintentionally ingest a marijuana/cannabis product it can have the following effects: increased heart rate, vomiting, slurring of words, lack of coordination, dizziness, paranoia, anxiousness and difficulty breathing.

As more states across the nation legalize the use of recreational marijuana, there have been reports of children under the age of 12 consuming edible cannabis. Between 2017 and 2022, The U.S. Poison Control Centers have reported more than 7,000 kids under the age of 6 have eaten marijuana edibles.

Accidentally consuming edibles is a risk for children that can result in the need for emergency medical attention. Harmful effects can include difficulty breathing, impaired motor skills and vomiting. If your child has ingested edible marijuana, immediately call poison control, 1-800-222-1222.

If your child is exhibiting any of the symptoms listed, immediately take your child to the hospital or call 911.

For more information about cannabis safety and how to get in touch with a pediatrician, please visit Allied Pediatrics’ website, www.alliedpediatrics.com.