As Halloween approaches, experts from the University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences Center are warning parents about the risk of children confusing cannabis edibles with regular candy. Joseph Lambson, PharmD, DABAT, director of the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center, emphasized the importance of monitoring all candy that children collect during Halloween festivities.
“Over the past few years, the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center has managed over 1,000 exposures to cannabis products since 2021, and roughly 50% of those have been in edible cannabis products,” Lambson said.
He noted that about half of these cases involved children aged 12 or younger, and 86% required hospitalization. Most exposures among young children were accidental.
“When a child sees a full chocolate bar that’s actually an edible cannabis product, it can be hard for them to distinguish that,” Lambson said. “So, they may eat what seems like a normal amount of chocolate, but it ends up being an extremely high amount of active THC.”
Lambson warned that even small amounts of cannabis can make a child ill and lead to serious health problems. “Unlike adults, when small children get too much THC product, they get very drowsy and very sleepy,” he explained. “It can make it difficult for them to breathe.”
To prevent accidental ingestion, Lambson advised: “It's much easier to prevent this from happening than it is to later treat it because it has happened.”
Recommendations for parents include sorting through all collected candy before consumption, discarding any suspicious items, discussing the dangers of cannabis with children, and storing any cannabis products securely out of reach or in a locked container.
Jacqueline Kakos, a health education consultant at the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center, suggested using lock bags or lock boxes for added security. “If you want to be extra careful, I suggest you get a lock bag or a lock box, so the cannabis gets locked inside,” she said. “They also come in combination locks as well.”
In case of exposure or if there are questions regarding potential poisoning incidents, both Kakos and Lambson urged parents to contact the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center immediately for expert advice. “Parents should not be afraid to call the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center,” Lambson said. “We are a free and confidential service, and our focus is on making sure that the child gets the medical care that they need.”
The center provides support around-the-clock at 1-800-222-1222 and is supported by UNM Children’s Hospital. More information is available on the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center website.
