Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health is urging parents and caregivers in Guelph to prioritize cannabis safety at home this April to prevent accidental ingestion by children. The health unit issued the reminder through the Upper Grand District School Board, highlighting that accidental cannabis poisoning is a serious risk that frequently occurs within the home.
The urgency of the advisory stems from the fact that edible cannabis products, such as chocolates, candies, and cookies, can look identical to regular treats. According to the Ontario Poison Centre, there has been a documented increase in children requiring hospital admission after consuming these products, many of which are unregulated items that mimic popular candy brands.
Research from SickKids Hospital shows that in the first two years following the legalization of cannabis in Canada, there was a four-fold increase in unintentional poisonings among children under the age of 12 and a three-fold increase in intensive care admissions. Nationally, between 2015 and 2021, 581 children under the age of 10 were hospitalized due to cannabis poisoning.
To keep children safe, public health officials recommend that families store all cannabis products in child-resistant packaging and keep them entirely out of sight and reach, just as they would with medications or cleaning supplies. Parents are also advised to avoid using cannabis in front of children and to purchase only legal products, which Health Canada limits to 10 mg of THC per package and mandates be sold in plain, child-resistant containers.
Warning signs of cannabis poisoning in children include extreme sleepiness, confusion, vomiting, trouble breathing, poor balance, seizures, and loss of consciousness. For non-emergency guidance, residents can contact the Ontario Poison Centre at 1-800-268-9017. In the event of a medical emergency, such as a child having difficulty breathing or losing consciousness, residents should call 911 immediately.
