Health Canada issues advisory after children consume ‘copycat’ cannabis edibles
Posted December 22, 2021 4:30 pm.
Last Updated December 22, 2021 4:44 pm.
Health Canada is warning the public about the risk of serious harm when it comes to consuming unregulated and illegal cannabis products after several children were hospitalized from consuming these products.
The agency points out illegal or copycat cannabis products might “look like popular brands of candies, snacks, or other food products” that you would recognize from any grocery store, gas station or corner store. Examples include snack foods such as chips, cookies, cheese puffs, and popular candy bars.
Health Canada warns these products have high amounts of THC, which can “increase the risk of experiencing adverse effects or poisoning.”
Legal cannabis products are packaged in plain packaging, comes with a Health Warning Message in a yellow box, the red cannabis symbol, an excise stamp, and is packaged in child-resistant packaging to prevent children from being able to open the product.
Children and pets are at a greater risk of cannabis poisoning, and while cannabis poisoning is not known to be fatal, over consumption can lead to adverse effects including, but not limited to, rapid heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, severe anxiety, panic attack, slurred speech, drowsiness/lethargy and/or loss of consciousness.
