Lake County Gazette

An alarming jump of 4,500% in the number of kids suffering from accidental consumption of marijuana edibles has medical workers across the state warning adults to keep the product away from kids, state Rep. Tom Weber (R-Fox Lake) warned.

"An alarming 4,500% rise in accidental ingestion of legalized recreational cannabis products by children is causing the Illinois Poison Control Center to issue a warning to parents and other users of cannabis products," Weber posted on Facebook.  "Illinois Poison Control advises parents to store THC infused edibles in a safe place that is out of the reach of children and avoid buying edibles that look like candy or a treat that a child would be eager to try."

Weber pointed out the unintentional ingestion of cannabis products, such as gummies and other edible medications, has caused an increase in calls to the poison control hotline and emergency room visits due to both minor and severe reactions in children, including vomiting, seizures and coma.

The number of exposures to edible cannabis among children 5 and younger across the state over a four-year period beginning in 2017 increased from 5 to 232 cases — a 4,500% increase, the Pantagraph reported. Most of the increase was during the pandemic years of 2020-2021. Illinois legalized recreational marijuana in 2020.

Nationally, researchers found the number of cases rose from 207 in 2017 to 3,054 in 2021, an increase of almost 14 times, the Pantagraph said. The increase prompted Illinois Poison Center Medical Director Michael Wahl to conclude “we are experiencing an increased amount of poison center calls and hospital visits involving children who unintentionally consumed cannabis edibles.”