Global Courant 2023-05-11 07:54:44
Health Canada has issued a public advisory on illegal “copycat” edible cannabis products, warning parents that they can cause serious harm to children if accidentally consumed.
These illicit products include “breakfast cereals and snack foods such as crisps, cheese puffs, cookies, chocolate bars and a variety of popular candies in colorful packaging” that contain “high amounts of THC that increase the risk of adverse effects from poisoning,” Health Canada said in a statement Wednesday. advice. “Parents and children may not recognize these products as anything other than their favorite brands of candy or snacks.”
Health Canada’s website lists several “copycat” cannabis products with photos mimic well-known snack brands such as Starburst, Doritos and Oreos.
According to the health service, several cases of children being hospitalized have been reported, particularly after consuming products that are illegal and unregulated.
The health service warns that accidental ingestion of cannabis can seriously harm children, young people and pets.
Health Canada said hospitals have seen more emergency room visits and poison control centers have seen more calls about children eating unregulated cannabis edibles.
“Poisonings can be life-threatening, sometimes resulting in coma, ventilatory support or, in rare cases, even death,” Health Canada’s report reads.
While no fatal cases have been reported in Canada, the government says it is aware of cases from other parts of the world where children have died from cannabis poisoning.
The packaging of illicit cannabis products sometimes looks like popular brands of candy or other snacks, but legal cannabis products are packaged in plain packaging to make them less appealing to children, says Health Canada.
The packaging of legal cannabis products also comes with a health warning and child-resistant packaging to prevent children from opening the product, the health agency said.
Symptoms to watch for if a child has ingested cannabis may include chest pain, rapid heart rate, nausea, vomiting, slowed and ineffective breathing (respiratory depression), severe anxiety, and several others.
If someone has a serious medical emergency related to a cannabis product, call 911 or contact your health care provider regional poison control centersays the health bureau.
For tips on how to identify a legal cannabis product or to learn more about cannabis products in Canada, visit Health Canada website.
Coverage for this story was paid for through the Meta-funded The Afghan Journalists in Residence Project.
