A third person in the Sault Ste. Marie area has been poisoned after using what they believed to be cannabis, prompting Algoma Public Health to issue an urgent warning to anyone who uses cannabis or related products. The health unit says the Ontario Poison Centre recently notified them of the latest case, and they issued the public warning on June 12, 2026, just two days after a separate drug alert from the Anishinabek Police Service about two suspected overdoses in Garden River First Nation.
In those earlier incidents, two people consumed what they thought was cannabis from a bong and suffered severe symptoms. One person died, and a youth was hospitalized with seizures and remains in care. Both had bought the product from a local dispensary called Little Green Garden in Garden River First Nation. The owners voluntarily closed the store while testing is completed. Police are investigating whether the substance was something other than cannabis or had been mixed with an unexpected drug.
Algoma Public Health warns that naloxone can reverse an opioid poisoning but will not work for other substances, and they stress that anyone seeing signs of poisoning should call 911 immediately. Other safety steps include using with someone else present, starting with a small amount, carrying a naloxone kit, and never mixing substances. The Ontario Poison Centre is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-268-9017, and the National Overdose Response Service can be reached at 1-888-688-6677.
This poisoning cluster hits a community already dealing with a toxic drug crisis. In 2025, the Algoma region had the fourth highest rate of opioid toxicity deaths in Ontario, at about 21 per 100,000 people, more than double the provincial average. The recent opening of the HART Hub in October 2025, which offers harm reduction, assessment, resources, and treatment, showed promising early results with improved death numbers in the final months of that year. But this latest round of poisonings shows the drug supply remains unpredictable.
The health unit is asking residents to be extra careful because even products that seem familiar might not be what they appear. The fact that a youth was among the victims also underscores how easily young people can access these substances. As the investigation continues, Algoma Public Health says it will share more information if needed. In the meantime, Sault Area Hospital’s emergency department on Great Northern Road is open 24/7 for anyone who needs help.
